In his own words: Martin Luther King Jr.

The federal holiday celebrating the life and achievements of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. takes place, Monday, Jan. 16. To mark the day and to remember the man, here’s but a brief compilation of some of the things he spoke about so eloquently during his lifetime , be it to end segregation, to oppose what he saw as an unjust war, to stand up for those who had no voice. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase. Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it. I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law. In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can stop him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important. Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man’s sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true. Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars... Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love. Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men. The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. Martin Luther King Jr. (Jan. 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968)