Inspiring quotes for Martin Luther King Day

January 18th is Martin Luther King day and sometimes referred to as MLK Day. It is a national holiday celebrating the birth of Martin Luther King Jr. King was most visible spokesman and leader in the American civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. King advocated civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience, inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech was delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. In his speech, King called for civil and economic rights and an end to racism in America.

Here's are some of King’s inspiring quotations:

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.

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 full of grace. A soul generated by love.

Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.

The time is always right to do the right thing

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’

Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.

No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.

We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers.

Not everybody can be famous, but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service.

We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there "is" such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.

If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.

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.

There is no gain without struggle.

Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

There is nothing more majestic than the determined courage of individuals willing to suffer and sacrifice for their freedom and dignity.

We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

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

Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.