Martin Luther King Jr. quotes
1929 – 1968 · 20th century, Civil Rights movement · Baptist minister, theologian, civil rights leader
About Martin Luther King Jr.
Born in Atlanta in 1929 and killed in Memphis in 1968, King led campaigns for racial equality through nonviolent protest, rooted in Protestant faith and influenced by Gandhi. He worked for voting rights, an end to segregation, and broader social justice reforms.
Works: Letter from Birmingham Jail; Why We Can't Wait; Stride Toward Freedom; Where Do We Go from Here
Quotes
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.”
Source: no specific work is documented · Check the source
Disputed attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The saying is commonly credited to Martin Luther King Jr., but scholars have not found the exact wording in his known speeches, broadcasts, or letters.
- What remains uncertain
- The attribution is disputed: the sentence appears to be a popular paraphrase of King’s thought and is often cited via later secondary sources rather than a verified primary King text.
The line captures the moral bravery King urged: start despite uncertainty, because waiting for full clarity stalls justice. It aligns with his Christian view of ‘walking by faith,’ yet the exact wording lacks primary‑source confirmation and should be cited cautiously.