Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent.

One doesn't want one's identity coerced.

I'm a human being I'm not a piece of property. I am not a consignment of goods.

Those of us who submitted or surrendered our ideas and dreams and identities to the 'leaders' must take back our rights, our identities, our responsibilities.

More having to do whatever anybody said you had to do. I couldn't really do anything on my own. But as I got older and then came to America and then Grace became my name, it somehow freed me. All of a sudden, I can be this other person.

Do what you want, do what you will, do what you have to, do what you think you cannot.

I am determined to defend my rights and maintain my freedom or sell my life in the attempt.

The people will learn to feel the dignity of man. They will not merely demand their rights, which have been trampled in the dust, but themselves will take them - make them their own.

I am not yet born; O fill me with strength against those who would freeze my humanity.

You'll be free or die!

Our freedom can be measured by the number of things we can walk away from.

I wanted to use my possibility to be an individual, and I suppose I have, no?

People can dress you the way they want, they can do your makeup the way they want, but they can never take away your voice.

I refuse to be stereotyped.

Having children, they're not your property. They need to figure out their own views. I think my daughters have a pretty healthy self-awareness, but I can't speak on their behalf.

A man is born free.

You call yourself what you want to call yourself.

The first need of a free people is to define their own terms.

Blandishments will not fascinate us, nor will threats of a "halter" intimidate. For, under God, we are determined that wheresoever, whensoever, or howsoever we shall be called to make our exit, we will die free men.

If I want to be called 'The Rock,' I'll be called 'The Rock.' If I want to go back to wrestling, I'll go back to wrestling.

Because you are women, people will force their thinking on you, their boundaries on you. They will tell you how to dress, how to behave, who you can meet and where you can go. Don't live in the shadows of people's judgement. Make your own choices in the light of your own wisdom.

Nobody likes being told who or what they are.

Please don't tell me what I can't do.

I've always fought against being controlled and manipulated and stomped upon by circumstances.

Say make me, remake me. You are free to do it and I am free to let you because look, look. Look where your hands are. Now.