Check out the best Coretta Scott King quotes that reflect her wisdom on justice, equality, perseverance, and the power of love.
Coretta Scott King was an author, activist, civil rights leader, and the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose voice helped shape the fight for freedom and equality in America.
After Dr. King’s assassination in 1968, she carried forward his legacy with strength and vision, becoming a symbol of resilience and hope.
Known for her advocacy of racial equality, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and global peace, Coretta’s words continue to inspire generations.
Her speeches, writings, and tireless activism earned her recognition as the “First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement”—a title that reflects both her elegance and her determination.
She also founded the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change and played a key role in establishing Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday.
Today, Coretta Scott King is remembered not just as the partner of a great leader, but as a leader, changemaker, and powerful voice in her own right.
Here are the most famous Coretta Scott King quotes that continue to inspire people to fight for justice, equality, and freedom for all.
Top 10 Coretta Scott King Quotes
- “Love is such a powerful force.” — Coretta Scott King
- “The greatest violence is seeing a child go to bed hungry.” — Coretta Scott King
- “There comes a time when time itself is ready for a change.” — Coretta Scott King
- “When the heart is right, the mind and the body will follow.” — Coretta Scott King
- “Freedom and justice cannot be parceled out in pieces to suit political convenience.” — Coretta Scott King
- “When you are willing to make sacrifices for a great cause, you will never be alone.” — Coretta Scott King
- “Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.” — Coretta Scott King
- “Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe that you must become its soul.” — Coretta Scott King
- “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” — Coretta Scott King
- “Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation.” — Coretta Scott King
Best Coretta Scott King Quotes
- “Justice is never advanced in the taking of human life.” — Coretta Scott King
- “My value system formed and was strengthened through pain and sacrifice.” — Coretta Scott King
- “Revenge and retaliation always perpetuate the cycle of anger, fear and violence.” — Coretta Scott King
- “Nonviolence is the only credible response to the violence we’re seeing around the world.” — Coretta Scott King
- “Non-violence is a permanent attitude we bring to the breakfast table and bring to bed at night.” — Coretta Scott King
- “Behind every good man, there’s a good woman reminding you I knew you when you didn’t have nothing.” — Coretta Scott King
- “Love is such a powerful force. It’s there for everyone to embrace-that kind of unconditional love for all of humankind.” — Coretta Scott King
- “It doesn’t matter how strong your opinions are. If you don’t use your power for positive change, you are, indeed, part of the problem.” — Coretta Scott King
- “People who think nonviolence is easy don’t realize that it’s a spiritual discipline that requires a great deal of strength, growth, and purging of the self.” — Coretta Scott King
- “Freedom and justice cannot be parceled out in pieces to suit political convenience. I don’t believe you can stand for freedom for one group of people and deny it to others.” — Coretta Scott King
Famous Quotes By Coretta Scott King
- “To abandon affirmative action is to say there is nothing more to be done about discrimination.” — Coretta Scott King
- “No abundance of material goods can compensate for the death of individuality and personal creativity.” — Coretta Scott King
- “What most did not understand then was that I was not only married to the man I loved, but I was also married to the movement that I loved.” — Coretta Scott King
- “I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brother and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people.” — Coretta Scott King
- “I believe all Americans who believe in freedom, tolerance, and human rights have a responsibility to oppose bigotry and prejudice based on sexual orientation.” — Coretta Scott King
- “If American women would increase their voting turnout by ten percent, I think we would see an end to all of the budget cuts in programs benefiting women and children.” — Coretta Scott King
- “When fear rushed in, I learned how to hear my heart racing but refused to allow my feelings to sway me. That resilience came from my family. It flowed through our bloodline.” — Coretta Scott King
- “There is a spirit and a need and a man at the beginning of every great human advance. Every one of these must be right for that particular moment of history, or nothing happens.” — Coretta Scott King
- “When the ultimate question is asked about who the real sinners or saviors of this century were, the answer clearly shows that Martin Luther King Jr. helped transform America.” — Coretta Scott King
- “I am convinced that the women of the world, united without any regard for national or racial dimensions, can become a most powerful force for international peace and brotherhood.” — Coretta Scott King
Popular Coretta Scott King Quotes
- “The failure to invest in youth reflects a lack of compassion and a colossal failure of common sense.” — Coretta Scott King
- “The Voting Rights Act was, and still is, vitally important to the future of democracy in the United States.” — Coretta Scott King
- “When Good Friday comes, these are the moments in life when we feel there’s no hope. But then, Easter comes.” — Coretta Scott King
- “Segmentation was wrong when it was forced by white people, and I believe it is still wrong when it is requested by black people.” — Coretta Scott King
- “Mama and Daddy King represent the best in manhood and womanhood, the best in a marriage, the kind of people we are trying to become.” — Coretta Scott King
- “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members, a heart of grace, and a soul generated by love.” — Coretta Scott King
- “I’m fulfilled in what I do. I never thought that a lot of money or fine clothes – the finer things of life – would make you happy. My concept of happiness is to be filled in a spiritual sense.” — Coretta Scott King
- “Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood.” — Coretta Scott King
- “Like life, racial understanding is not something that we find but something that we must create. And so the ability of Negroes and whites to work together, to understand each other, will not be found readymade; it must be created by the fact of contact.” — Coretta Scott King
- “I prayed that God would give me the direction for my life, to give me the strength to do what it was, and the ability to do what it was that he had called me to do. And I was trying to seek, ‘What is it that I’m supposed to do, now that Martin is no longer here?’” — Coretta Scott King
Conclusion
Coretta Scott King quotes continue to guide generations toward peace, equality, and justice. Her words are not only inspirational but also a call to action—a reminder that the fight for freedom, equality, and compassion is ongoing.
What are your favorite Coretta Scott King quotes and Coretta Scott King sayings listed above? If there is a quote that we’ve missed, then let us know in the comments section what your thoughts are.
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