Through violence you may murder a hater, but you cannot murder hate. Darkness cannot put out darkness. Only light can do that.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Only Light Can Do That

Topic: Overcoming Adversity

I say to you today that I still stand by nonviolence… And the other thing is that I am concerned about a better world. I’m concerned about justice. I’m concerned about brotherhood. I’m concerned about truth. And when one is concerned about these, he can never advocate violence. For through violence you may murder a murderer but you can’t murder murder. Through violence you may murder a liar but you can’t establish truth. Through violence you may murder a hater, but you can’t murder hate. Darkness cannot put out darkness. Only light can do that.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, as Michael Luther King Jr., but later changed his name to Martin. He came from a family of pastors, with his grandfather and father both serving as pastors at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Martin Luther King Jr. attended segregated public schools and graduated from high school at the age of fifteen. He went on to earn his B.A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, where his father and grandfather had also graduated.

After completing three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary, where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, King received his B.D. degree in 1951. He then pursued graduate studies at Boston University, where he met and married Coretta Scott. King completed his doctorate in 1955 and had two sons and two daughters with Coretta. Throughout his life, Martin Luther King Jr. played a crucial role in the civil rights movement, advocating for racial equality and justice through nonviolent means. His leadership and inspiring speeches, such as his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, made him a prominent figure in the fight against segregation and discrimination. In 1964, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to promote peaceful change and equality for African Americans. Tragically, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, but his legacy as a champion of civil rights continues to inspire people around the world.

(1929-1968) Christianity
Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?

Wilson, Andrew, editor. World Scripture II. Universal Peace Federation, 2011, p. 1088 [Martin Luther King, Jr., Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos Or Community? Address to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (16 August 1967)].

Martin Luther King Jr.

Theme: Overcoming

About This Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotation [Commentary]

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s quote, “Through violence you may murder a hater, but you cannot murder hate. Darkness cannot put out darkness. Only light can do that,” underscores his commitment to nonviolence. King believed that true change arises from love and understanding, not from perpetuating hatred and violence. In the context passage, he explains that while violence can eliminate individuals, it cannot eradicate deeper societal issues like hate, falsehood, or injustice. His assertion that “only light can do that” highlights the necessity of compassion, love, and truth to overcome adversity.

King’s concern for a better world, justice, brotherhood, and truth reflects his vision of a society where love triumphs over hate. By advocating for nonviolence, he emphasized the transformative power of positive action and moral integrity. King believed that responding to hate with hate only perpetuates negativity, whereas responding with love and light has the potential to create lasting change. His teachings remind us that overcoming adversity is not about defeating opponents through force but about changing hearts and minds through persistent, loving action.

In the face of adversity, King’s message remains relevant. He acknowledged the challenges and setbacks in the struggle for justice, yet maintained an “audacious faith in the future.” His words encourage us to remain hopeful and steadfast, even when the path is difficult. King’s vision of a world driven by love rather than hate continues to inspire efforts toward social justice and equality, underscoring that the true victory lies in the power of light over darkness.

Additional Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes

“I have also decided to stick to love. For I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind’s problems. And I’m going to talk about it everywhere I go… I have decided to love. If you are seeking the highest good, I think you can find it through love. And the beautiful thing is that we are moving against wrong when we do it, because John was right, God is love. He who hates does not know God, but he who has love has the key that unlocks the door to the meaning of ultimate reality.”

—Martin Luther King, Jr. [Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos Or Community?].

“Communism forgets that life is individual. Capitalism forgets that life is social, and the kingdom of brotherhood is found neither in the thesis of communism nor the antithesis of capitalism but in a higher synthesis. It is found in a higher synthesis that combines the truths of both.”

—Martin Luther King, Jr. [Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos Or Community?].

“I must confess, my friends, the road ahead will not always be smooth. There will be still rocky places of frustration and meandering points of bewilderment. There will be inevitable setbacks here and there. There will be those moments when the buoyancy of hope will be transformed into the fatigue of despair. Our dreams will sometimes be shattered and our ethereal hopes blasted. We may again with tear-drenched eyes have to stand before the bier of some courageous civil rights worker whose life will be snuffed out by the dastardly acts of bloodthirsty mobs. Difficult and painful as it is, we must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future. … When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds of despair, and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, let us remember that there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows. Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.”

—Martin Luther King, Jr. [Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos Or Community?].

Resources

Martin Luther King, Jr. on Nonviolence and Love via the Berkley Center website

Only Light Can Do That

Resources

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