Quote by Martin Luther King, Jr.
I am coming to feel that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than the people of goodwill. We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people. We must come to see that human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and persistent work of men willing to be co-workers with God, and without this hard work time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation. We must use time creatively, and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right. Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy, and transform our pending national elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity.
Summary
This quote by Martin Luther King Jr. emphasizes the urgent need for action and speaks to the importance of time in achieving social progress. King argues that the negative actions of ill-intentioned individuals must not be the only focus of criticism; inaction and silence from good people also contribute to societal stagnation. In order to bring about positive change, King asserts that it is necessary for individuals to actively work towards justice and equality. He highlights that progress does not happen automatically but rather through the dedicated efforts of individuals who are willing to collaborate with higher principles and values. King calls for immediate action to fulfill the promise of democracy, replacing racial injustice with human dignity.
