At a Glance
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 19, honoring the civil-rights leader born Jan. 15
- News Of Los Angeles curates 50 of his most powerful lines from speeches, sermons and letters
- Passages span 1956-1968, including “I Have a Dream” and the Nobel Peace Prize address
- Why it matters: A single quote can spark conversation, classroom lessons or personal reflection on equality and nonviolence
King’s birthday becomes a federal holiday every third Monday in January. These 50 quotations-drawn from iconic speeches and lesser-known writings-offer a quick way to remember his call for justice, love and disciplined protest.
From the Podium
King’s 1963 Lincoln Memorial address supplies several entries:
- “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.”
- “We cannot walk alone. And as we walk we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.”
- “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”
Other speeches add momentum:
- Selma, 1965: “We are determined here in Montgomery to work and fight until justice runs down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
- Nobel Prize, 1964: “I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.”
From the Page
King’s books and letters supply concise wisdom:
- Strength to Love: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
- Letter from Birmingham Jail: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
- A Gift of Love: “Forgiveness is a catalyst creating the atmosphere necessary for a fresh start and a new beginning.”
Everyday reminders
- “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”
- “Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”
- “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.”
How to Use Them
Post one on social media, open a team meeting with a line, or copy a favorite into a journal. Teachers can pair quotes with discussion questions; families can read one aloud at dinner each night of the holiday weekend.
Key Takeaways
- 50 quotes span speeches, sermons and published works from 1956-1968
- Themes cover nonviolence, justice, love, education and global brotherhood
- Share digitally or read quietly to keep King’s legacy alive beyond Monday
Choose any line, reflect for a moment, and continue the work he championed.
