If you’ve ever had interacted with me then you know I love quotes! I like how they take a deep and often challenging topic and make it plain and simple for everyone to understand. One of my top three favorite quotes is by Dr. MLK:
Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.
--Martin Luther King Jr.
“Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?'” What are you afraid of? What won’t you try because you think you will fail? I know some people who don’t put forth their best effort so that if they aren’t successful, they can always say, “Well, I wasn’t trying my hardest.” That’s asinine! The only thing that beast a failure is a try! If it’s not your best try, how can you expect your best result?
“Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?'” In this instance, the word politic can best be translated: tactful; diplomatic. Basically, will you do something just to please other people? At first read that sounds good, even nice. However, a closer examination shows that you are simply being a “people pleaser,” not a person of integrity.
Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?'” If I do this, will it make me cool? What will people say if I don’t? If everybody else is doing it, it can’t be that bad, right? WRONG! You can always choose your sin, but you can never choose your consequences.
“But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?'” Now that’s a great question, but I’d like to take it one step further to make it the best question ever. Please know that I believe that wrong is wrong even if everyone else is for it, and right is right even if everyone else is against. Although something may be right or permissible, is it necessarily right for you? I think the question we should really be asking ourselves is “Is it wise?” Based on our past experiences, current situation, and future hopes and dreams, the question we need to ask ourselves when faced with life’s unique situations is not whether something is safe, diplomatic, or popular--not even is it right. The best question we could ever ask ourselves is, “Is it wise?” In life, you always have a choice. Choose wisely.
Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.
--Martin Luther King Jr.
“Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?'” What are you afraid of? What won’t you try because you think you will fail? I know some people who don’t put forth their best effort so that if they aren’t successful, they can always say, “Well, I wasn’t trying my hardest.” That’s asinine! The only thing that beast a failure is a try! If it’s not your best try, how can you expect your best result?
“Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?'” In this instance, the word politic can best be translated: tactful; diplomatic. Basically, will you do something just to please other people? At first read that sounds good, even nice. However, a closer examination shows that you are simply being a “people pleaser,” not a person of integrity.
Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?'” If I do this, will it make me cool? What will people say if I don’t? If everybody else is doing it, it can’t be that bad, right? WRONG! You can always choose your sin, but you can never choose your consequences.
“But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?'” Now that’s a great question, but I’d like to take it one step further to make it the best question ever. Please know that I believe that wrong is wrong even if everyone else is for it, and right is right even if everyone else is against. Although something may be right or permissible, is it necessarily right for you? I think the question we should really be asking ourselves is “Is it wise?” Based on our past experiences, current situation, and future hopes and dreams, the question we need to ask ourselves when faced with life’s unique situations is not whether something is safe, diplomatic, or popular--not even is it right. The best question we could ever ask ourselves is, “Is it wise?” In life, you always have a choice. Choose wisely.
