You see, my friends...you begin to ask the questions, 'Who owns the oil?' You begin to ask the question, 'Who owns the iron ore?' You begin to ask the question, 'Why is it that people have to pay water bills in a world that is two-thirds water?'

Power is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice is love correcting everything that goes against love.

The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress. Out of its bold struggles, economic and social reform gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, government relief for the destitute, and, above all, new wage levels that meant not mere survival but a tolerable life.

History is the long and tragic story of the fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily.

We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.

There is a magnificent new militancy within the Negro community all across this nation. And I welcome this as a marvelous development. The Negro of America is saying he's determined to be free and he is militant enough to stand up.

[I] know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind's problems.