Here at Good Good Good, we stand behind people who see a problem and address it with unabashed courage, empathy, and hope — Coretta Scott King is the ultimate example of that.
You might know King as the wife of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., however, her legacy extends far beyond the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s.
Notably known as the chief architect of Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy, King spent her life fighting against racism, war, homophobia, and any other form of violence and inequality — all done through peaceful advocacy.
King led with resolute strength, peace, and justice. Her work and legacy have since inspired future generations of activists to fight for social action.
In celebration of the life and legacy of Coretta Scott King, we put together some of her most inspiring quotes that we hope will propel you to continue on in the pursuit of justice and liberty for all:
Famous Quotes From Coretta Scott King on Community, Love, and Freedom
“When the heart is right, the mind and the body will follow.”
— Coretta Scott King
“Freedom and justice cannot be parceled out in pieces to suit political convenience. I don’t believe you can stand for freedom for one group of people and deny it to others.”
— Coretta Scott King
“It doesn’t matter how strong your opinions are. If you don’t use your power for positive change, you are, indeed, part of the problem.”
— Coretta Scott King
“My value system formed and was strengthened through pain and sacrifice.”
— Coretta Scott King, in her book My Life, My Love, My Legacy
“Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation.”
— Coretta Scott King
“There comes a time when time itself is ready for a change.”
— Coretta Scott King
“Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.”
— Coretta Scott King
“Revenge and retaliation always perpetuate the cycle of anger, fear, and violence.”
— Coretta Scott King
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members, a heart of grace, and a soul generated by love.”
— Coretta Scott King
“When you are willing to make sacrifices for a great cause, you will never be alone.”
— Coretta Scott King
“The greatest violence is seeing a child go to bed hungry.”
— Coretta Scott King, on eliminating world hunger
Related: Read quotes about hunger and feeding the poor
“Justice is never advanced in the taking of human life.”
— Coretta Scott King
“People who think nonviolence is easy don’t realize that it’s a spiritual discipline that requires a great deal of strength, growth, and purging of the self.”
— Coretta Scott King
On Women in the Civil Rights Movement
“Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe that you must become its soul.”
— Coretta Scott King
“I am convinced that the women of the world, united without any regard for national or racial dimensions, can become a most powerful force for international peace and brotherhood.”
— Coretta Scott King
“Behind every good man, there’s a good woman reminding you I knew you when you didn’t have nothing.”
— Coretta Scott King
“If American women increase their voting turnout by ten percent, I think we would see an end to all of the budget cuts in programs benefiting women and children.”
— Coretta Scott King
Related: Meet these inspiring women making a difference
Related: Read quotes to empower women — by women
Related: Read quotes for Women’s History Month
On the LGBTQ+ Community & Gay Rights
“I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brother and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people.”
— Coretta Scott King
“I believe all Americans who believe in freedom, tolerance, and human rights have a responsibility to oppose bigotry and prejudice based on sexual orientation.”
— Coretta Scott King
“Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity, and personhood.”
— Coretta Scott King
“I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice. But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’”
— Coretta Scott King
On Her Husband: Martin Luther King Jr.
Related: Read the best quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.
“What most did not understand then was that I was not only married to the man I loved, but I was also married to the movement that I loved.”
— Coretta Scott King
“Accepting the prize, Martin said he saw the award as ‘profound recognition that nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time.’”
— Coretta Scott King, on her husband, Martin Luther King Jr., being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, excerpted from her book, My Life, My Love, My Legacy
“As one whose husband and mother-in-law have died the victims of murder and assassination, I stand firmly and unequivocally opposed to the death penalty for those convicted of capital offenses… An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed of retaliation.”
— Coretta Scott King, on the abolition of the death penalty (Plus, read more of her death penalty quotes)
“When the ultimate question is asked about who the real sinners or saviors of this century were, the answer clearly shows that Martin Luther King Jr. helped transform America.”
— Coretta Scott King
Related: Read inspiring quotes about hope and activism from Coretta Scott King's daughter, Bernice King
