African American Civil Rights Quotes:

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Life, Motivational, Wisdom, Antithesis, World Religions

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Wisdom, Peace, Freedom, Social Equality, Social Injustice

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Inspirational, Motivational, Inspiring, Love And Hate, Darfur

I learned to put my trust in God and to see Him as my strength. Long ago I set my mind to be a free person and not to give in to fear. I always felt that it was my right to defend myself if I could. I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.

- Rosa Parks

topic: Long Ago, Years, Knowing, Empowering Women, I Am Strong

Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.

- Coretta Scott King

source: "Understanding Cultural Diversity in Today's Complex World". Book by Leo Parvis, p. 54, 2010.

topic: Inspirational, Inspiring, Forgiveness, Importunate, Love And Hate

Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Inspirational, Witty, Truth, Kings And Love, Knowledge And Ignorance

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

source: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (2012). “A Gift of Love: Sermons from Strength to Love and Other Preachings”, p.67, Beacon Press

topic: Inspirational, Life, Inspiring, Social Equality, Love And Hate

In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

source: "The Trumpet of Conscience". Martin Luther King, Jr.'s steeler lecture at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, November 17, 1957.

topic: Friendship, Wisdom, Clever, Sounds Of Silence, Meaningful Friendship

The time is always right to do what is right.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Inspirational, Positive, Inspiring, Social Good, Social Service

Half a century ago, the amazing courage of Rosa Parks, the visionary leadership of Martin Luther King, and the inspirational actions of the civil rights movement led politicians to write equality into the law and make real the promise of America for all her citizens.

- David Cameron

topic: Leadership, Kings, Real, Civil Right Movement, Civil Rights Leaders

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Inspirational, Relationship, Inspiring, Love And Hate, Forgive Yourself

Anyone who said he wasn't afraid during the civil rights movement was either a liar or without imagination. I was scared all the time. My hands didn't shake but inside I was shaking.

- James L. Farmer, Jr.

topic: Liars, Rights, Hands, Civil Right Movement, Civil Rights Movement

Returning hate for hate multiplies hate...

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Hate, Social Equality, Love And Hate, Make Peace Not War, Social Programs

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

source: Martin Luther King Jr. (1963). “Strength to Love”

topic: Inspirational, Friendship, Positive, Social Entrepreneurship, Making A Difference In The World

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Love, Inspirational, Inspiring, Importunate, Love And Hate

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Motivational, Change, Positive, Faith And Family, Hope And Faith

Look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin,...

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Color, Judging, People, Good Character, Social Equality

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Inspirational, Inspiring, Leadership, Leadership Potential, Molding

We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Education, Character, Goal, Good Character, Inspirational Character

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Life, Greatness, Humanity, Individualistic, Kings And Love

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Inspirational, Motivational, Positive, Infinite Beauty, Infinite Hope

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

topic: Love, Friendship, Change, Love And Hate, Soul Force

I see America through the eyes of the victim. I don't see any American dream--I see an American nightmare.

- Malcolm X

topic: Dream, Eye, America, Ballots, African American Civil Rights