Martin Luther King Quotes: 23 Inspirational Sayings For MLK Day 2022

The life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, the face of the civil rights movement, is celebrated in the U.S. on the third Monday in January each year.

King used his powerful words along with methods of civil disobedience and nonviolence to continue pushing the civil rights movement forward.

Although he was born on Jan. 15, 1929, his birthday is celebrated under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which celebrates certain federal holidays on Monday.

In celebration of MLK Day, check out these 23 inspiring quotes by Dr. King, compiled from BrainyQuote and A-Z Quotes.

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

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

3. “Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”

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

5. “Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles; Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances.”

6. “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

7. “It is always the right time to do the right thing.”

8. “Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.”

9. “Our children need our presence, not our presents.”

10. “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.”

11. “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.”

12. “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.”

13. “No person has the right to rain on your dreams.”

14. “Not everybody can be famous, but everybody can be great because greatness is determined by service.”

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

16. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

17. “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 forward.”

18. “Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.”

19. “If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.”

20. “A productive and happy life is not something you find; it is something you make.”

21. “May I stress the need for courageous, intelligent, and dedicated leadership... Leaders of sound integrity. Leaders not in love with publicity, but in love with justice. Leaders not in love with money, but in love with humanity. Leaders who can subject their particular egos to the greatness of the cause.”

22. “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”

23. “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.”