"Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper the darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that..." "Strength to Love" (1963)
" I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into the hell of thermonuclear destruction. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant." -Nobel Prize acceptance speech (1964)
"I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind's problems....I say to myself that hate is too great of a burden to bare. I have decided to love. If you are seeking the highest good, I think you can find it through love. And the beautiful thing is that we are moving against wrong when we do it, because John was right, God is love. He who hates does not know God, but he who has love has the key that unlocks the door to the meaning of ultimate reality." -"Where do we go from here?"- Address to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (1967)
(Posted to remember "Black History" month in the United States.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Well said.
Post a Comment