Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Speech ·258 of 348
"The arc of the moral universe is long but bends toward justice. — Martin Luther King Jr."
They never said that.
What people say
"The arc of the moral universe is long but bends toward justice. — Martin Luther King Jr."
What was actually said
"I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one… but from what I see I am sure it bends toward justice." Theodore Parker (later used by MLK) — Theodore Parker, "Of Justice and the Conscience" sermon (1853)
Why it stuck
MLK paraphrased Parker in 1958 and again in 1965. The polished quote always appears in King's voice; Parker's older, more hedged version is forgotten.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.