"That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing"

This quote by Martin Luther King Jr. talks to the idea of justice and how it ought to be served. The expression "an eye for an eye" is a recommendation to the ancient law of retribution, which mentions that an individual should be punished in the same method that they have actually mistreated another. King is recommending that this type of justice is not beneficial, as it just causes a cycle of violence and retribution. Instead, he is promoting for a more compassionate approach to justice, one that seeks to repair the harm done and bring back balance. He is also suggesting that the time is always ideal to do the best thing, despite the situations. This is a powerful pointer that justice ought to be served with empathy and understanding, rather than with vengeance and retribution. King's words are a suggestion that justice must be served in a way that is useful to all parties included, rather than merely punishing the culprit.