February is Black History Month and Martin Luther King has been on my mind during this long, cold winter. 

I have been thinking about nonviolent Civil Rights activities in the last century. MLK helped this nation to face the fact that our people of color, poor people, and women were living with injustices daily. Civil Rights were essential to define the truly American Century.

King encouraged Americans to make legal and social changes that have helped more people to live the “American Dream.”  I have been wondering what MLK would say about events happening now in our nation and around the world. 

With that in mind, I looked online and found quotations that I hope will help the next generation to live in a kinder country than we have now.

The following Martin Luther King quotations were collected by McKenzie Jean-Philippe “55 of the Most Powerful Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotations: His words stand the test of time” (2021).

“Love is the greatest force in the universe. It is a participant in the being of God.”

— From “Moments in Time”

“Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”

— From a letter in the 1960s

“True peace is not merely the absence of tension:  it is the presence of justice.”

— From “Stride Toward Freedom”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

— From “Strength of Love”

“Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”

— From a sermon in 1959

“One day we will learn that the heart can never be totally right when the head is totally wrong.”

–From “Strength of Love”