> At a Glance
> – Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 19
> – Federal holiday honors the civil-rights leader born Jan. 15
> – 50+ quotations drawn from “I Have a Dream,” Nobel speech, Selma address
> – Why it matters: Short, shareable lines keep Dr. King’s non-violence message alive
Need an uplifting Instagram caption or classroom poster for MLK Day? News Of Philadelphia has compiled the activist-minister’s most memorable lines-from 1963’s Lincoln Memorial speech to his 1964 Nobel Prize lecture-ready to copy, paste, and circulate.
King’s Core Messages
King fused moral clarity with lyrical rhythm. His words champion justice, love, and disciplined protest, insisting that “darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”
Core themes appear again and again:
- Non-violence as the path to equality
- Unity across racial and national lines
- Hope that “the arc of the moral universe… bends toward justice”
Top Quotes to Post or Ponder
Pick one-or ten-to share Monday:
- “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.”
- “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
- “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… but where he stands at times of challenge.”
- “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
- “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
- “We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Quick Reference: Speech Sources
| Quote | Source Year |
|---|---|
| “I have a dream…” | 1963 March on Washington |
| Nobel Peace Prize lines | 1964 Oslo |
| “Our God is Marching On!” | 1965 Selma |
| “Letter from Birmingham Jail” | 1963 |
| “Strength to Love” sermons | 1963 book |
Key Takeaways
- Jan. 19 marks the federal day of service honoring King
- Quotations span speeches, sermons, and letters from 1956-1968
- Share them to spark reflection on civil rights progress still underway
Post a line, retell a dream, and keep the call for equality alive long after the holiday ends.
