On Aug. 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.

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Although the speech is King’s most frequently quoted, the civil rights legend gave many speeches on a range of topics – and they aren't all about "dreams" and "mountaintops."

Here are some of King’s lesser-known quotes:

1. On the rationalization of slavery, from his 1963 collection of sermons "Strength to Love:" "Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

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Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com