“The only ones who make things change are fanatics. If you’re not a fanatic around here, you can’t cut it.”

There is no substitute for hard work, 23 or 24 hours a day. And there is no substitute for patience and acceptance.

The end of all knowledge must be the building up of character.

You are never strong enough that you don’t need help.

The non-violent technique does not depend for its success on the goodwill of the oppressor, but rather on the unfailing assistance of God.

Our language is the reflection of ourselves.

When you sacrifice, you force others to sacrifice. It’s an extremely powerful weapon.

We have looked into the future and the future is ours.

When you have people together who believe in something very strongly – whether it’s religion or politics or unions – things happen.

Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well with others.

Do not romanticize the poor. We are all people, human beings subject to the same temptations and faults as all others. Our poverty damages our dignity.

Students must have initiative; they should not be mere imitators. They must learn to think and act for themselves – and be free.

I’m not going to ask for anything unless the workers want it. If they want it, they’ll ask for it.

Years of misguided teaching have resulted in the destruction of the best in our society, in our cultures and in the environment.

If you’re not frightened that you might fail, you’ll never do the job. If you’re frightened, you’ll work like crazy.

What is at stake is human dignity. If a man is not accorded respect he cannot respect himself and if he does not respect himself, he cannot demand it.

We are suffering. We have suffered. And we are not afraid to suffer in order to win our cause.

Any real change implies the breakup of the world as one has always known it, the loss of all that gave one an identity, the end of safety.

How wonderful, how very wonderful the operations of time, and the changes of the human mind!

You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.

You can’t change where you started, but you can change the direction you are going. It’s not what you are going to do, but it’s what you are doing now that counts.

Open your arms to change but don’t let go of your values.

People don’t realize how a man’s whole life can be changed by one book.

In fact, once he is motivated no one can change more completely than the man who has been at the bottom. I call myself the best example of that.

A self that goes on changing is a self that goes on living.