Martin Luther King Jr. explains the meaning of love in rare handwritten note | CNN (2024)

Martin Luther King Jr. explains the meaning of love in rare handwritten note | CNN (1)

In a handwritten note, Martin Luther King Jr. defines his meaning of love. The note is on sale for $42,000.

CNN

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, a rare handwritten note by Martin Luther King Jr. on the meaning of love has been discovered.

The note, believed to be from sometime in the mid-1960s, is up for sale through the memorabilia company Moments in Time.

While the note’s sale price of $42,000 may seem steep, Gary Zimet, CEO of Moments in Time, says the price reflects just how rare it is to find a handwritten note by the renowned civil rights leader.

“It is extremely rare. Other than inscriptions in (typed) letters and books, finding a handwritten note is very rare,” Zimet said. “This note encapsulates the philosophy of King’s life and that’s why it’s so important.”

According to Zimet, King wrote the note after someone asked him what he believed was the meaning of love.

The note reads, “Love is the greatest force in the universe. It is the heartbeat of the moral cosmos. He who loves is a participant in the being of God.”

Zimet said his experience of 40 years in the business led him to believe the note was authentic the second he saw it. But he also compared it to other instances of King’s handwriting to make sure it was real. CNN could not independently confirm its authenticity.

Moments in Time bought the note from a memorabilia dealer in England, who apparently had no idea of the note’s worth, according to Zimet.

While the high price point may not make this note an ideal Valentine’s gift for the average person, Zimet hopes it goes to someone who will appreciate its meaning and value.

Martin Luther King Jr. explains the meaning of love in rare handwritten note | CNN (2024)

FAQs

Martin Luther King Jr. explains the meaning of love in rare handwritten note | CNN? ›

According to Zimet, King wrote the note after someone asked him what he believed was the meaning of love. The note reads, “Love is the greatest force in the universe. It is the heartbeat of the moral cosmos. He who loves is a participant in the being of God.

What did Martin Luther King, Jr mean by be love? ›

Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.” BE LOVE seeks to strategically define and unleash the true power of love to unite humanity, cultivate true peace, and create the Beloved Community.

What was Martin Luther King, Jr's brief note? ›

(born January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.—died April 4, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee) was a Baptist minister and social activist who led the civil rights movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968.

What was Martin Luther King's message about? ›

Martin Luther King Jr.'s “Dream” speech was a call for equality. It identified the faults of America and what measures were needed to make it a better place. A central theme throughout the speech was the importance of everyone being treated equally.

Which phrase from Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have a Dream" speech contains the strongest emotional connotations? ›

In Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, the phrase that contains the strongest emotional connotations is "seared in the flames of withering injustice." Here's why: 1. The word "seared" creates a vivid image of something being burned or deeply marked, conveying a sense of intense pain and suffering.

What did Martin Luther say about love? ›

Love is not only pure joy, and delight, but also great and deep heaviness of heart and sorrow. But love too is full of joy and sweetness even in bitter sorrow, because it regards the misery and injury of others as its own.

What was King's message of love? ›

He insisted “darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.

Who is Martin Luther Short answer? ›

Martin Luther (1483—1546) German theologian, professor, pastor, and church reformer. Luther began the Protestant Reformation with the publication of his Ninety-Five Theses on October 31, 1517. In this publication, he attacked the Church's sale of indulgences.

What are some notes about Martin Luther? ›

Martin Luther, a 16th-century monk and theologian, was one of the most significant figures in Christian history. His beliefs helped birth the Reformation—which would give rise to Protestantism as the third major force within Christendom, alongside Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

What does Martin Luther King teach us? ›

Martin Luther King Jr. believed in the power of love. He taught us to love others and not hate because love always wins in the end. He believed that hating people is stooping low and that no one should ever fall prey to hate.

What was Martin Luther's main message? ›

His central teachings, that the Bible is the central source of religious authority and that salvation is reached through faith and not deeds, shaped the core of Protestantism. Although Luther was critical of the Catholic Church, he distanced himself from the radical successors who took up his mantle.

What were Martin Luther King's key messages? ›

"We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Washington National Cathedral, March 31, 1968. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."

What was the moral of Martin Luther King, Jr? ›

Throughout his life, King held true to his faith, and to his core principle that, in the end, love will conquer hate, no matter how long it takes. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that,” he famously said. “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

What emotion did Martin Luther King have? ›

Though King became an icon of non-violence and peace, he also inwardly wrestled with anger and, at times, would snap at those he loved. Looking at how King dealt with anger reveals its dual nature—how it can be a motivating force for change, while also containing the potential for destruction.

Why is Martin Luther King Jr I Have a Dream Speech important? ›

The culmination of this event was the influential and most memorable speech of Dr. King's career. Popularly known as the "I have a Dream" speech, the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. influenced the Federal government to take more direct actions to more fully realize racial equality.

What did Martin Luther say I have a dream speech? ›

I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

What does "b love" stand for? ›

Share button. in Abraham Maslow's humanistic psychology, a form of love characterized by mutuality, genuine concern for another's welfare and pleasure, and reduced dependency, selfishness, and jealousy. B-love is one of the qualities Maslow ascribes to self-actualizers (see self-actualization).

What is love quote by Martin Luther King? ›

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend." - Martin Luther King Jr.

What did Martin Luther King say about love and power? ›

Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love. Martin Luther King Jr.

How does MLK define agape love? ›

Agape means nothing sentimental or basically affectionate; it means understanding, redeeming goodwill for all men, an overflowing love which seeks nothing in return.”

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