"My personal assessment is that Dr. King is the greatest American we have ever produced. I can argue for Lincoln, I can argue for FDR, but for my money, King is the greatest American we have ever produced. His only weapon was love. He transforms a nation, transforms the world with one weapon and that of course being again the weapon of love. So that for me, King is the quintessential example of everything that I could ever want to be in my lifetime"
About this Quote
The line His only weapon was love is intentionally disarming and a little strategic. Love here isn t Hallmark sentiment; it is disciplined, public-facing courage, a tactic that refuses the emotional logic of retaliation. Smiley is smoothing out the messier parts of King s politics and frustrations, yes, but he is doing it to spotlight a core paradox: nonviolence works by weaponizing vulnerability, forcing the nation to confront its own image. Love becomes not softness but pressure.
There s also autobiography in the praise. Smiley ends with King as a template for everything I could ever want to be, turning the tribute into a mission statement. In a media culture that rewards hot takes and cynicism, he is arguing for a different kind of influence: transformation without domination, persuasion without cruelty. That s not nostalgia; it s a challenge to what we currently call strength.
Quote Details
| Topic | Peace |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Smiley, Tavis. (2026, January 16). My personal assessment is that Dr. King is the greatest American we have ever produced. I can argue for Lincoln, I can argue for FDR, but for my money, King is the greatest American we have ever produced. His only weapon was love. He transforms a nation, transforms the world with one weapon and that of course being again the weapon of love. So that for me, King is the quintessential example of everything that I could ever want to be in my lifetime. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/my-personal-assessment-is-that-dr-king-is-the-90154/
Chicago Style
Smiley, Tavis. "My personal assessment is that Dr. King is the greatest American we have ever produced. I can argue for Lincoln, I can argue for FDR, but for my money, King is the greatest American we have ever produced. His only weapon was love. He transforms a nation, transforms the world with one weapon and that of course being again the weapon of love. So that for me, King is the quintessential example of everything that I could ever want to be in my lifetime." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/my-personal-assessment-is-that-dr-king-is-the-90154/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"My personal assessment is that Dr. King is the greatest American we have ever produced. I can argue for Lincoln, I can argue for FDR, but for my money, King is the greatest American we have ever produced. His only weapon was love. He transforms a nation, transforms the world with one weapon and that of course being again the weapon of love. So that for me, King is the quintessential example of everything that I could ever want to be in my lifetime." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/my-personal-assessment-is-that-dr-king-is-the-90154/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
