Famous quote by Martin Luther King Jr.

Mobile Desktop
The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict
Like

"The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict"

- Martin Luther King Jr.

About this Quote

Martin Luther King Jr.'s quote, "The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict," is an effective admonition against apathy and inaction in the face of ethical predicaments and social injustices. This declaration underscores the profound duty each individual needs to decide when faced with ethical concerns.

At its core, the quote recommends that neutrality in times of moral crisis is not a benign stance but rather a complicit one. When individuals choose to stay indifferent or refuse to take a stand, they inadvertently support the status quo, which frequently perpetuates injustice and harm. In the context of the Civil Rights Movement, King was prompting individuals-- and society at big-- to actively take part in the battle for racial equality and justice. His message sought to awaken the moral conscience of the nation, emphasizing that silence and inactiveness in the face of injustice are tantamount to backing it.

Making use of "the most popular location in Hell" is a brilliant metaphor that suggests extreme ethical guilt for those who select neutrality. It suggests that inaction in such critical times is one of the gravest moral failings, deserving of the most extreme condemnation. This images serves to jolt people out of complacency and to provoke a sense of urgency and duty.

Moreover, the quote speaks to the universal battle in between great and wicked. It compels individuals to examine their own values and choices, prompting them to be proactive representatives for change and justice. In broader terms, it serves as a suggestion that ethical disputes are frequently defining minutes in history, where the collective reaction-- or lack thereof-- forms the future of society.

By dissuading neutrality, King requires courage and conviction, motivating individuals to join the fight versus oppression and promote positive modification, even when the individual expense is high. This message remains appropriate today, resonating in different contexts where moral guts is required to combat inequality and injustice.

About the Author

Martin Luther King Jr. This quote is written / told by Martin Luther King Jr. between January 15, 1929 and April 4, 1968. He was a famous Minister from USA. The author also have 92 other quotes.

Go to author profile

Similar Quotes

Small: It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without
Jose Rizal
"It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming a part of any edifice"
Jose Rizal, Writer
Small: Behind every great fortune lies a great crime - Honore de Balzac
Honore de Balzac
"Behind every great fortune lies a great crime"
Honore de Balzac, Novelist
Small: Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon t
William Shakespeare
"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them"
William Shakespeare, Dramatist
Small: All great truths begin as blasphemies - George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
"All great truths begin as blasphemies"
George Bernard Shaw, Dramatist
Small: Men are only as great as they are kind - Elbert Hubbard
Elbert Hubbard
"Men are only as great as they are kind"
Elbert Hubbard, Writer
Small: Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship - Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
"Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship"
Benjamin Franklin, Politician
Small: To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is
Harriet Beecher Stowe
"To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization"
Harriet Beecher Stowe, Author
Small: Hes by best friend and the father of my children. Hes a great ex - Sarah Ferguson
"He's by best friend and the father of my children. He's a great ex"
Sarah Ferguson, Author
Small: The only way to do great work is to love what you do - Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do"
Steve Jobs, Businessman
Small: I seemed to vow to myself that some day I would go to the region of ice and snow and go on and on till I came
"I seemed to vow to myself that some day I would go to the region of ice and snow and go on and on till I came to one of the poles of the earth, the end of the axis upon which this great round ball turns"
Ernest Shackleton, Explorer