So I've been seeing this quoted and tweeted around the Internet:
"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that"
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
It actually turns out that this is a composite of two quotes, one leading into the other, by two very different people from two successive time periods. The first sentence was actually posted by Jessica Dovey on Facebook sometime yesterday. Only the next three sentences can be attributed to Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., which were composed in his sermon, Loving Your Enemies, first published in Strength to Love (1963, pp.52-53).
These words were also delivered in some form as part of his "Where Do We Go From Here?" speech at the 11th Annual SCLC Convention in Atlanta, Georgia in 1967 and also subsequently used in another form in Dr. King's later book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? (1968, pp.64-65).
Therefore, if you do end up using this quote, be sure to give credit where credit is due. Jessica Dovey, whose initial statement is largely responsible for the wide dissemination of this quote, didn't attribute the whole item to Dr. King. She was merely expressing her opinion on the matter. If you would like to quote the whole thing together—as it is beautiful when combined—be sure to do it properly. Something like this ought to do:
"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. 'Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.' MLK jr"________________________________
- Jessica Dovey (citing Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
References:
Imgur. 3 May 2011 <http://i.imgur.com/cqtjw.jpg>.________________________________
Jasso, Jenna. Correct MLK quote, I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives. 3 May 2011 <http://jennajasso.com/mlk-i-mourn/>.
Justin Stamper: "I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, bu. The Huffington Post. 3 May 2011 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/SIgrdrifa/osama-bin-laden-dead-world-leaders-react_n_856226_86736091.html>.
"KarenQ". KarenQ: Just an FYI: The first Dr. King quote isn't entirely. The Huffington Post. 3 May 2011 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/KarenQ/osama-bin-laden-dead-world-leaders-react_n_856226_86741329.html" target=_new>.
"SIgrdrifa". SIgrdrifa: Most of that quote is definitely MLK, he used it. The Huffington Post. 3 May 2011 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/SIgrdrifa/osama-bin-laden-dead-world-leaders-react_n_856226_86736091.html>.
Strength to Love - Google Books. Google. 3 May 2011 <http://books.google.com/books?id=errxX4tzSMcC&pg=PA53>.
“Where Do We Go From Here?,” Delivered at the 11th Annual SCLC Convention. Stanford University. 3 May 2011 <http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/encyclopedia/documentsentry/where_do_we_go_from_here_delivered_at_the_11th_annual_sclc_convention/>.
Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos Or ... - Google Books. Google. 3 May 2011 <http://books.google.com/books?id=ky323HwHxXMC&pg=PA64>.
Other Resources:
King, Martin Luther. Black Power. Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?. Boston: Beacon, 1968. 49‒57.________________________________
King, Martin Luther. Loving Your Enemies. Strength to Love. New York: Harper & Row, 1963. 23‒69.
Photo credit: Posted by Jessica Dovey to Imgur on 2011-05-03. Image ©2011 Jessica Dovey. All rights reserved.
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