The Theory Of Democratic Government Is Not

Now Is The Accepted Time, Not Tomorrow, Not Some More Convenient Season. It Is Today That Our Best Work Can Be Done And Not Some Future Day Or Future Year. It Is Today That We Fit Ourselves For The Greater Usefulness Of Tomorrow. Today Is The Seed Time, Now Are The Hours Of Work, And Tomorrow Comes The Harvest And The Playtime.

How Shall Integrity Face Oppression? What Shall Honesty Do In The Face Of Deception, Decency In The Face Of Insult, Self-defense Before Blows? How Shall Desert And Accomplishment Meet Despising, Detraction, And Lies? What Shall Virtue Do To Meet Brute Force? There Are So Many Answers And So Contradictory; And Such Differences For Those On The One Hand Who Meet Questions Similar To This Once A Year Or Once A Decade, And Those Who Face Them Hourly And Daily.

I Am Especially Glad Of The Divine Gift Of Laughter: It Has Made The World Human And Lovable, Despite All Its Pain And Wrong.

Oppression Costs The Oppressor Too Much If The Oppressed Stands Up And Protests. The Protest Need Not Be Merely Physical-the Throwing Of Stones And Bullets-if It Is Mental, Spiritual; If It Expresses Itself In Silent, Persistent Dissatisfaction, The Cost To The Oppressor Is Terrific.

Cannot The Nation That Has Absorbed Ten Million Foreigners Into Its Political Life Without Catastrophe Absorb Ten Million Negro Americans Into That Same Political Life At Less Cost Than Their Unjust And Illegal Exclusion Will Involve?