Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quotes: Remembering the civil rights leader with his own words
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
NEW YORK -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Now, more than half a century after his death, we take a look back at inspiring quotes from the civil rights leader in honor of his legacy.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." (Letter from Birmingham City Jail)
"We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right." (Letter from Birmingham City Jail)
"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." (1963 book Strength to Love)
"Oh, there will be a day, the question won't be, 'How many awards did you get in life?' Not that day ... The question that day will not be, 'What kind of automobile did you have?' On that day the question will be, 'What did you do for others?'" ("The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life" sermon)
"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." (Where Do We Go From Here, 1967)
"If a man hasn't discovered something he will die for, he isn't fit to live." (Preview of the "Dream" at Detroit March)
"As long as there is poverty in this world, no man can be totally rich even if he has a billion dollars." ("The American Dream")
"Civilization and violence are antithetical concepts." (Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech)
"Everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart..." ("The Drum Major Instinct," Ebenezer Baptist Church)
"Somewhere we must come to see that human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and persistent work of dedicated individuals..." (Oberlin College Commencement)
"If you can't fly, run; if you can't run, walk; if you can't walk, crawl; but by all means keep moving." ("Keep Moving from this Mountain" address)
ABC News contributed to this report.
