1. Thou shalt not believe in a military victory.

2. Thou shall not believe in a political victory.

3. Thou shall not believe that they, the Vietnamese love us.

4. Thou shall not believe that the Saigon government has the support of the people.

5. Thou shall not believe that the majority of the South Vietnamese look upon the Vietcong as terrorists.

6. Thou shalt not believe the figures of killed enemies or killed Americans.

7. Thou shall not believe that the generals know best.

8. Thou shalt not believe that the enemy's victory means communism.

9. Thou shall not believe that the world supports the United States.

10. Thou shall not kill.

Martin Luther King (more by this author)

1929-1968 (Age at death: 39 approx.)

An American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African-American civil rights movement. His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States and he is frequently referenced as a human rights icon today. A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. There, he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as one of the greatest orators in U.S. history.

Country: United States

Type: Prose
Context: Speech
Context Details: Found in Dr. Kings Pocket moments after being shot
Uttered: 4
Cited By: Coretta Scott King

The Ten Commandments On Vietnam