This business of burning human beings with napalm, of filling our nation's homes with orphans and widows, of injecting poisonous drugs of hate into veins of peoples normally humane, of sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically deranged, cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice and love.
The conservatives who say, "Let us not move so fast," and the extremists who say, "Let us go out and whip the world ," would tell you that they are as far apart as the poles. But there is a striking parallel: They accomplish nothing; for they do not reach the people who have a crying need to be free.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the futility of both extreme conservative caution and radical activism if they fail to address the genuine needs for freedom.
In this quote, Martin Luther King, Jr. critiques both conservative voices that advocate for slow progress and extremists who call for aggressive change. He points out that despite appearing to hold opposing views, both groups fail to connect with and address the needs of people seeking freedom and justice. Ultimately, he emphasizes the importance of understanding the needs of the community and acting in a way that truly supports progress.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on social justice, you might quote this to emphasize the need for genuine action that helps those in need.
More from Martin Luther King, Jr.
All quotes →Music is the best consolation for a despaired man
We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.
We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.
Israel... is one of the great outpost of democracy in the world
One of the greatest casualties of the war in Vietnam is the Great Society... shot down on the battlefield of Vietnam.
Similar quotes
When treating with liars, even an honest man must lie.
The true conservative is the man who has a real concern for injustices and takes thought against the day of reckoning.
The good of our soul is more important than that of our body; and we have to prefer the spiritual welfare of our neighbor to our bodily comforts. . . If a certain kind of dress constitutes a grave and proximate occasion of sin, and endangers the salvation of your soul and others, it is your duty to give it up.
Man cannot live by bread alone. Man after all is composed of intellect and soul.
Accustom yourself not to be disregarding of what someone else has to say: as far as possible enter into the mind of the speaker.
anytime you catch folks lying, they scared of something!