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Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., American civil rights leader, Baptist Minister & 1964
Nobel Peace laureate (1929-1968)
"Peace is not merely a
distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at
that goal."
"The hope of a secure
and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are
dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood."
"Peace is more important
than all justice; and peace was not made for the sake of justice,
but justice for the sake of peace."
"I refuse to accept the
view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight
of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood
can never become a reality."
"Whatever affects one
directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought
to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated
structure of reality."
"Violence as a way of
achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It
is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction
for all. The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.
It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather
than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than
convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather
than love. It destrous community and makes brotherhood impossible.
It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence
ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors
and brutality in the destroyers."
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