Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most prominent figures in American Civil Rights history. The man advocated for equal rights for black Americans and was unfortunately assassinated. However, his wisdom remains important as people can learn a lot from it—The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life gives us a lot of insights into the goodness of MLK.
Life is incomplete when people walk in the absence of God; because of this, most of the population gets lost in everyday struggles. On top of that, people have no idea about right or wrong in society which is visible at different times in the world’s history.
The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life
In the speech: Three Dimensions of a Complete Life, Martin Luther King discusses the three things necessary for a good quality human life. Firstly, he addresses these things or actions as dimensions—length, breadth, and height. Secondly, he discusses why all these are crucial for a quality life for any individual. Therefore, let’s shed some light on each of the below.
Length (Inward Love for Yourself)
An individual is incomplete until he loves himself, and MLK does not talk about some egoistic love but a genuine desire to improve oneself. It’s like a determination to become the best version of yourself and loving the process. Thus, by improving and constantly working on yourself one can achieve great goals.
Breath (Welfare of People Around You)
The breadth of life is the responsibility of an individual to look after his people. Moreover, it’s one duty to serve the welfare of others. The selfless act is one of the most crucial traits of a human being and without it, society is incomplete. So, we must act in a way to uplifts and improves the lives of others.
Height (Continous Striving Towards God)
Lastly, the height of one’s life is an effort to reach God—it’s one of the most difficult acts on Earth, to be the man of God. However, according to MLK, it’s possible and while there is always room for improvement, the humility that one gets when working the will of God is truly exceptional.
Thoughts: The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life
Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, “The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life,” emphasizes the importance of love, breadth, and height in a quality life. He argues that an individual’s life is incomplete without love and that a good quality life requires self-improvement, serving others, and striving towards God.
Beautiful Lines from MLK ( The Three Dimensions of Human Life)
“If you can’t be a pine on the top of a hill
Be a scrub in the valley—but be
The best little scrub on the side of the hill,
Be a bush if you can’t be a tree.
If you can’t be a highway just be a trail
If you can’t be the sun be a star;
It isn’t by size that you win or fail—
Be the best of whatever you are.
And when you do this, when you do this, you’ve mastered the length of life.”
Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)
What are the three dimensions of human life?
The following are the three dimensions of human life according to MLK:
- Inward love and desire to improve oneself
- Outward care for others and their prosperity
- Upward reach for the God in heaven
What are 3 things MLK is known for?
The three different things MLK is known for are:
- Leadership
- Theology
- Poetry
What are the three dimensions of a complete life and which do you think is the most important and why?
Every advocating value of Martin Luther King Jr. is important for a complete life and not a single one is while without the other.
