Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. However, his birthday is celebrated on Monday, January 19, 2026, as part of a three-day holiday.

Most people know some of the quotes from Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. However, he is known for many famous quotes, including those about love, hope, and the importance of taking action. Some of his famous quotes are listed below.

“Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter to 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.” (From Dr. Martin Luther King’s last speech, April 3, 1968. He died on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39).

“Whatever your life’s work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.”

“Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.”

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

“Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see.”

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

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

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

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

“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving.”

“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”

Rev. Margaret Minnicks