Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.

—Martin Luther King Jr.

hate spirit nonviolence violence

About Martin Luther King Jr.

Portrait of Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American civil rights activist and Baptist minister who was a prominent leader of the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. He advanced civil rights in the United States through...

More quotations from Martin Luther King Jr.

As you press on with justice, be sure to move with dignity and discipline, using only the weapons of love.

—Martin Luther King Jr.

justice love dignity discipline

The nonviolent approach does not immediately change the heart of the oppressor. It first does something to the hearts and souls of those committed to it. It gives them new self-respect; it calls up resources of strength and courage that they did not know they had. Finally it reaches the opponent and so stirs his conscience that reconciliation becomes a reality.

—Martin Luther King Jr.

strength hearts change conscience respect nonviolence courage oppression self-respect

We are called to play the good Samaritan on life's roadside; but that will be only an initial act. One day the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that men and women will not be beaten and robbed as they make their journey through life. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it understands that an edifice that produces beggars needs restructuring.

—Martin Luther King Jr.

The question is not whether we will be extremist but what kind of extremist will we be.

—Martin Luther King Jr.

Reconsider your definitions. We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the size of our automobiles rather than by the quality of our service and relationship to mankind.

—Martin Luther King Jr.

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More quotations tagged with “violence”

Nonviolence doesn't always work—but violence never does.

—Madge Micheels-Cyrus

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If we let people see that kind of thing, there would never again be any war.

—Pentagon official on why the U.S. military censored graphic footage from the Gulf War

war politics peace violence

Another plan I have is World Peace through Formal Introductions. The idea is that everyone in the world would be required to meet everyone else in the world, formally, at least once. You'd have to look the person in the eye, shake hands, repeat their name, and try to remember one outstanding physical characteristic. My theory is, if you knew everyone in the world personally, you'd be less inclined to fight them in a war: "Who? The Malaysians? Are you kidding? I know those people!

—George Carlin

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A liberation movement that is nonviolent sets the oppressor free as well as the oppressed.

—Barbara Deming

nonviolence violence oppression liberation oppressed

He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action! It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.

—Albert Einstein

war heroism morality music violence patriotism killing murder civilization

History

2 Jan 2015 Added