Martin Luther King Jr. on Nonviolence

Martin Luther King Jr. on Nonviolence

• “Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies – or else? The chain reaction of evil – hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars – must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
• ” We who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. “― Martin Luther King Jr.
• ” 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.
• ” At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love. “― Martin Luther King Jr.
• ” Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. I am not unmindful of the fact that violence often brings about momentary results. Nations have frequently won their independence in battle. But in spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace. “― Martin Luther King Jr.
• ” World peace through nonviolent means is neither absurd nor unattainable. All other methods have failed. Thus we must begin anew. Nonviolence is a good starting point. Those of us who believe in this method can be voices of reason, sanity, and understanding amid the voices of violence, hatred, and emotion. We can very well set a mood of peace out of which a system of peace can be built. “― Martin Luther King Jr.
• ” Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper 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. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. “― Martin Luther King Jr.
• ” Mankind must put and end to war or war will put an end to mankind. “― Martin Luther King Jr.
• “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
• “One of the greatest casualties of the war in Vietnam is the Great Society… shot down on the battlefield of Vietnam.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
• “The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
• “Wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
• “We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war but the positive affirmation of peace.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.