Freedom

"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Personal Take:
This is exactly why King's quote from yesterday is so significant.  Not only must our freedom be demanded by the oppressed but it must also be enforced by those to whom it is given.  The moment we take our freedom for granted, it is snatched from us-- slowly or by lightening force.  The fight for freedom is never-ending and must always be fought for and guarded with all of our might.

Silence

"History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Personal Take:
I find this quote to resonate today, at a time in which our governments have been taking the rights of the people in order to "protect" the people from themselves and capitalism.  While this quote was most certainly significant during the war for civil rights, it is also shockingly accurate for the fight to retain and regain the rights given to us in the constitution.

Leadership

"A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus."

- Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Personal Take:
I find this quote to resonate particularly since it seems as though throughout my entire adult life (I was 18 in 1995) our presidents have governed as populists rather than leaders.  Yet we proclaim that they are the leaders of the Free World.  Until we find someone who governs by the law of the land and acts on their principles rather than public opinion, our leaders are, in fact, followers.  This quote alone explains why Martin Luther King, Jr. was and will always be a respected leader, whereas our so-called present day leaders will be remembered as anything but. 

Faith

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

-  Martin Luther King, Jr.

Timing

"The time is always right to do what is right."

-  Martin Luther King, Jr.

Character

"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."

-  Martin Luther King, Jr.

Passion

"A man who won't die for something is not fit to live."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.