Quotes That Changed the World

A look back at some of King's most memorable statements.

On Equality - On the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., BET.com looks back at some of the memorable quotes by the civil rights leader."There are more Negroes in jail with me than there are on the voting rolls."

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On Equality - On the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., BET.com looks back at some of the memorable quotes by the civil rights leader."There are more Negroes in jail with me than there are on the voting rolls."

On Economic Prosperity - "We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one."

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On Economic Prosperity - "We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one."

On Courage - "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."(Photo: Corbis)

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On Courage - "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."(Photo: Corbis)

Photo By Photo: Landov

On Racism - "Racism is a sickness unto death."

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On Racism - "Racism is a sickness unto death."

On Equality - "Throughout the struggle for racial justice, I have constantly asked God to remove all bitterness from my heart and to give me the strength and courage to face any disaster that came my way."

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On Equality - "Throughout the struggle for racial justice, I have constantly asked God to remove all bitterness from my heart and to give me the strength and courage to face any disaster that came my way."

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On Humanitarianism - "When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love."

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On Humanitarianism - "When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love."

On Equality - "It may get me crucified. I may even die. But I wanted it said, even if I die in the struggle, that ‘He died to make men free.'"

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On Equality - "It may get me crucified. I may even die. But I wanted it said, even if I die in the struggle, that ‘He died to make men free.'"

On Racism - "The white establishment is skilled in flattering and cultivating emerging leaders. It presses its own image on them, and finally, from imitation of manners, dress and style of living, a deeper strain of corruption develops … Ultimately, he changes from the representative of the Negro to the White man into the White man’s representative to the Negro."

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On Racism - "The white establishment is skilled in flattering and cultivating emerging leaders. It presses its own image on them, and finally, from imitation of manners, dress and style of living, a deeper strain of corruption develops … Ultimately, he changes from the representative of the Negro to the White man into the White man’s representative to the Negro."

On the Nation - "Some of us bear the burden of trying to save the soul of America." (Photo: Ann Marshall/Camera Press/Retna)

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On the Nation - "Some of us bear the burden of trying to save the soul of America." (Photo: Ann Marshall/Camera Press/Retna)

Photo By Photo: Ann Marshall/Camera Press/Retna

On Courage - "We are entering deeper nights of social disruption in our country. We have the resources to solve our problem. But the question is, do we have the will?"

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On Courage - "We are entering deeper nights of social disruption in our country. We have the resources to solve our problem. But the question is, do we have the will?"

Photo By Photo: Landov

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On Economic Prosperity - "Capitalism fails to realize that life is social."

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On Economic Prosperity - "Capitalism fails to realize that life is social."

On Humanitarianism - "Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’"  (Photo: William Hamilton/Camera Press/Retna)

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On Humanitarianism - "Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’" (Photo: William Hamilton/Camera Press/Retna)

Photo By Photo: William Hamilton/Camera Press/Retna

On Humanitarianism - "Non-violence is a powerful and just weapon. It is a weapon, unique in history, which cuts without wounding, and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals."(Photo: Corbis)

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On Humanitarianism - "Non-violence is a powerful and just weapon. It is a weapon, unique in history, which cuts without wounding, and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals."(Photo: Corbis)

On War - "We have allowed our civilization to outrun our culture, and so we are in danger now of ending up with guided missiles in the hands of misguided men."

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On War - "We have allowed our civilization to outrun our culture, and so we are in danger now of ending up with guided missiles in the hands of misguided men."

On War - "I speak out against this [Vietnam] war not in anger, but with sorrow in my heart and, above all, a passionate desire to see our beloved country stand as a moral example to the world."

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On War - "I speak out against this [Vietnam] war not in anger, but with sorrow in my heart and, above all, a passionate desire to see our beloved country stand as a moral example to the world."

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On America - "America is essentially a dream, a dream as yet unfulfilled."

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On America - "America is essentially a dream, a dream as yet unfulfilled."

On Humility - "It is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of high maturity to rise to the level of self-criticism."

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On Humility - "It is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of high maturity to rise to the level of self-criticism."

On Purpose - "There is nothing more tragic than to find an individual bogged down in the length of life, devoid of depth."

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On Purpose - "There is nothing more tragic than to find an individual bogged down in the length of life, devoid of depth."

On Black Pride - "When the history books are written in future generations, the historians will have to pause and say, ‘There lived a great people, a Black people, who injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization.’"

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On Black Pride - "When the history books are written in future generations, the historians will have to pause and say, ‘There lived a great people, a Black people, who injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization.’"