Today we honor not only a great American, but a true citizen of the world in Martin Luther King Jr. King helped bring about tremendous social change through nonviolence, and helped make the American Dream accessible and possible for so many who had been systematically disenfranchised. Were it not for the amazing contributions of this once in a generation activist and humanitarian, America would not be the land of opportunity that it is today.

As an entrepreneur I can really appreciate and respect what he did, because I know just what kind of amazing impact the right opportunity can have on your life – and I know that MLK helped make opportunity an option for millions around the world. May we honor his legacy by making the most of our opportunities while following his message of acceptance, equality, and love! I’ve included some of my favorite MLK quotes below that I feel really captures the essence of this remarkable man. I hope you enjoy them, and reflect on how you can follow his example!

Keep Growing!

-JR Ridinger

• Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.
• Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
• 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.
• Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
• I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
• Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
• We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.
• We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
• The time is always right to do what is right.
• 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.