On the death of enemies

[update]

The quote I published originally at this post was a misquote. Here’s what I should have posted:

Why should we love our enemies? The first reason is fairly obvious. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

This bona fide quote is from Dr. King’s Strength to Love , 1963

[Here’s the misquote I originally published: “I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” – I picked it up at another site, and it was incorrect.]

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Erich Vieth

Erich Vieth is an attorney focusing on civil rights (including First Amendment), consumer law litigation and appellate practice. At this website often writes about censorship, corporate news media corruption and cognitive science. He is also a working musician, artist and a writer, having founded Dangerous Intersection in 2006. Erich lives in St. Louis, Missouri with his two daughters.

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Avatar of Jim Razinha
    Jim Razinha May 2, 2011 Reply

    A very good article:

    Chris Hedges Speaks on Osama bin Laden

    Now the hubbub is over whether King said all that. He certainly said the "Darkness cannot…" part, but the rest is questioned. As my wife observed, it doesn't matter who said it – it's still a good quote.

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