Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes

Leadership is about doing what you know is right - even when a growing din of voices around you is trying to convince you to accept what you know to be wrong.

You must always do what you feel is right.

Cowardice asks the question, ‘Is it safe?’ Expediency asks the question, ‘Is it politic?’ Vanity asks the question, ‘Is it popular?’ But Conscience asks the question, ‘Is it right?’ And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right.

I do what I think is right.

If in doubt, don't. If still in doubt, do what's right.

doing what is right is easy. The problem is knowing what is right

I have to do what's right.

That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.

There are times in politics when you must be on the right side and lose.

I'm always inspired by people who choose to do what is right, not what is easy.

What distinguishes the majority of men from the few is their ability to act according to their beliefs.

You ask yourself not if this or that is expedient, but if it is right.

If you know something is morally reprehensible, then it is your moral obligation to stop it as soon as possible.

There are things you stand up for because it's right.

It may not always be easy, convenient, or politically correct to stand for truth and right, but it is the right thing to do. Always.

To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage, or of principle.

My philosophy is different than most of the people up here. I think if you do the right thing and you lose, you still did the right thing. I think if you do less than the right thing and win, it’s morally reprehensible.

You've got to do what's right, or what you think is right. And you've got to make tough decisions. And you've got to be willing to take on your friends when you disagree with them.

On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' And Vanity comes along and asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But Conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?'

Know what's important and what isn't. Have the wisdom to know the right thing to do, the integrity to do it, the character to stand up to those who don't, and the courage to stop those who won't.

Doing the right thing is a decision, which in many cases means you stand alone.

It’s a good thing when you don’t dare do something if you don’t think it’s right. But it’s not good when you think something’s not right because you don’t dare do it.

Action itself, so long as I am convinced that it is right action, gives me satisfaction.

It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.

There comes a time when you have to stand up and be counted.