History has thrust something upon me from which I cannot turn away.

By nonviolent resistance, the Negro can also enlist all men of good will in his struggle for equality.

Please be peaceful. We believe in law and order. We are not advocating violence, I want you to love your enemies... for what we are doing is right, what we are doing is just -- and God is with us.

Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable . . .

Now a lot of us are preachers, and all of us have our moral convictions and concerns, and so often have problems with power. There is nothing wrong with power if power is used correctly.

When I am commanded to love, I am commanded to restore community, to resist injustice, and to meet the needs of my brothers.

Never before have I written so long a letter. I'm afraid it is much too long to take your precious time. I can assure you that it would have been much shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk, but what else can one do when he is alone in a narrow jail cell, other than write long letters, think long thoughts, and pray long prayers?