“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” —Matthew 5:9
One of the greatest peacemakers of all time was none other than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A Baptist minister and activist, Dr. King is best known for peacefully leading the civil rights movement with nonviolent tactics based on his deep Christian beliefs.
Y’all, this man was the boldest of the BOLD. He was full of passion, grace, Christ’s love, and justice. He carved the way for change in this nation, and he made peace where there was nothing but division.
In honor of his leadership, legacy, and faith, we take this week to remember and celebrate him.
Here are 20 Martin Luther King Jr. quotes for living your best life.
Faith
“We don’t have a shortage of preachers who can preach with the best of them; we have a shortage of preachers who are in tune with the least of them…Our theology must get low.”
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; But whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”
Love
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.”
“We must learn to live together like brothers, or we will perish together like fools.”
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
“The richer we have become materially, the poorer we have become morally and spiritually. We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers.”
“Let no man pull you low enough to hate him.”
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”
“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
“Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you.”
Boldness
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
“The time is always right, to do what is right.”
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.”
Progress
“If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl. But by all means, keep moving.”
“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”
Peace & Justice
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
“True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it’s the presence of justice.”
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
May we all strive to be peacekeepers like Dr. King today!
