15 Martin Luther King Jr. quotes to spark meaningful conversations with your kids

January 15th marks the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Though his life was cut short, his legacy endures. From little-known selfless acts to monumental marches, his messages of non-violent, active protest and free speech ring as true today as they did more than fifty years ago.

To help your kids understand the significance of MLK Day, we’ve compiled some of our favorite quotes. Use them as a jumping-off point with your kids to teach about leading through example and fighting for racial justice. 

You can also read books about his life to learn more about the historical moments of the time, listen to his speeches and have discussions with your child to understand more of his lasting significance.

Read: Books are an excellent way for everyone, from little babies to big kids to grownups, to learn more about Martin Luther King Jr., including his life growing up and the key events that took place during the Civil Rights movement. These books about Martin Luther King Jr. offer age-appropriate reading material you can explore together. 

Listen: Many of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches are archived online and available to listen to for free. One of the most famous, “I Have a Dream,” is an excellent jumping-off point for kids just learning about Martin Luther King Jr. You can listen to it in its entirety here. 

Ask: What does “dangerous unselfishness” mean? Why is forgiveness important? What does it mean to be judged by the color of your skin? Open discussions, draw together, or just sit with these questions as you discover more about Martin Luther King Jr. with your kids. 

These Martin Luther King Jr. quotes help celebrate the man who inspired generations to use non-violence to make lasting change.

15 MLK quotes for kids

1. “Let us develop a kind of dangerous unselfishness.”

—“I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” Memphis, Tenn., Apr. 3, 1968

2. “Love is the most durable power in the world.”

—“Loving Your Enemies,” Montgomery, Ala., Nov. 17, 1957

3. “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.”

—Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Oslo, Norway, Dec. 11, 1964

4. “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.”

—“I Have a Dream,” Washington, D.C., Aug. 28, 1963

5. “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

—“Loving Your Enemies,” Montgomery, Ala.,November 17, 1957

6. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

—“I Have a Dream,” Washington, D.C., Aug. 28, 1963

7. “Sooner or later, all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace, and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. If this is to be achieved, man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”

—Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Oslo, Norway, Dec. 11, 1964

8. “Forgiveness is a catalyst creating the atmosphere necessary for a fresh start and a new beginning.”

—“Loving Your Enemies,” Montgomery, Ala.,November 17, 1957

9. “…only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”

—“I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” Memphis, Tenn., Apr. 3, 1968

10. “Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.”

—“I Have a Dream,” Washington, D.C., Aug. 28, 1963

11. “…the beauty of genuine brotherhood and peace is more precious than diamonds or silver or gold.”

—Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Oslo, Norway, Dec. 11, 1964

12. “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

—“Letter from Birmingham, Alabama jail,” April 16, 1963

13. “…love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”

—“Loving Your Enemies,” Montgomery, Ala.,November 17, 1957

14. “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.”

—Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Oslo, Norway, Dec. 11, 1964

15. “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

—“I Have a Dream,” Washington, D.C., Aug. 28, 1963

A version of this post was published January 6, 2023. It has been updated.