By Jean Baptiste Ndabananiye
The essence of perseverance lies in navigating life’s unpredictable journey, where moments of triumph and hardship continuously shape one’s resilience and determination. Life constitutes an unpredictable journey, filled with moments of triumph and hardship. At times, we are brimming with success, while at other times, we find ourselves struggling to take even a single step forward. Yet, no matter the circumstances, progress remains essential. The late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s powerful words—“If you can’t fly; then, run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward”—serve as a timeless reminder that persistence, in any form, forms the key to achieving our goals.
Dr. King Jr.’s words remind us that progress is not always impressive or swift but must be continuous, no matter how small the steps toward it may seem insignificant. Whether soaring with success, pushing through struggles, or barely inching forward; every effort counts in the pursuit of our dreams. Even the most trivial actions, when performed with persistence, keep us in motion and ensure that stagnation never overtakes our journey. This unwavering commitment to action, no matter how trivial it appears, is precisely how self-made millionaires and billionaires have built their success. This article explores the deeper meaning behind this quote, breaking it down into these four fundamental aspects:
- Ambition
- Resilience
- Adaptability
- Unwavering commitment.
Ambition— the drive to fly
Violence cannot be a solution to violence; it only deepens the wounds it claims to heal. Likewise, corruption cannot be eradicated by more corruption. Therefore, a problem cannot be used to eliminate a problem. Every ambition is surrounded by obstacles. Frustration may knock at your door, but opening it only delays your progress. No dream is realized through despair or inaction.
To attain your ambition, you need action rather than other problems like despair, frustration or inaction. It is action—persistent and unwavering—that clears the path toward your goal. Dr. King additionally underscored it, declaring “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. I have decided to stick to love…Hate is too great a burden to bear.
When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds of despair, and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, let us remember that there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows. Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope. We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.”
Dr. King was a prominent American civil rights leader who championed nonviolent resistance to end racial segregation and discrimination in the United States. He is renowned for his role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech which inspired millions in the fight for equality and justice. Dr. King—who earned his doctorate in in systematic theology from Boston University in 1955 at the age of 26— emerged as one of the most quotable speakers of the 20th century.
Dr. King, at the age of thirty-five, was the youngest man to have been awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize. He was murdered on the evening of April 4, 1968. He was then standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he had to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city.
Ambition fuels the human spirit, pushing us toward greatness. When the late King spoke of flying, he referred to those moments when we are at our best—when we feel unstoppable, achieving milestones with confidence and enthusiasm. In this state, we experience peak performance, where our aspirations align with our capabilities, and the world seems full of endless possibilities.
However, ambition alone does not suffice. Ambition rarely comes without challenges, as every great pursuit is met with obstacles that test one’s determination. To achieve your dream, you must anticipate difficulties and arm yourself with resilience and skills needed to overcome them. True success belongs to those who prepare themselves early, stay persistent, and rise above every hardship that stands in their way.
Many dream of flying, but only those who pair their aspirations with consistent effort reach the skies. Whether in personal growth, career advancement, or social change; ambition must be accompanied by action. Consider the achievements of innovators like Thomas Edison who— despite thousands of failures— maintained his vision of creating the light bulb.
His ability to fly emanated from relentless determination, proving that ambition must be coupled with persistent effort to manifest into reality. For further details around Edison, you can open this article—Why failure is the real shortcut to success— which features him.
Resilience—running through the storm
Life is rarely smooth sailing. There will occur setbacks, obstacles, and moments of despair. When flying is no longer possible, running becomes the next best option. Running symbolizes resilience—the ability to push forward despite difficulties. It represents the willingness to face adversity valiantly and continue striving even when the road is rough.
Resilience is exemplified by countless individuals who have faced overwhelming odds yet refused to quit. Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison, emerged not with bitterness but with a renewed commitment to justice. He remained unable to fly during those years, but he kept moving forward, step by step, until his vision of an apartheid-free South Africa became reality.
We all face our own challenges—financial struggles, health crises, failed relationships—but how we respond defines our journey. Running requires endurance, and endurance is built through practice. Developing a resilient mindset means embracing failure as part of the process and using it as fuel to keep going.
Dr. King also said “Time is always ripe to do right.” Life In Humanity argues that time is always right to take action, except when you are too ill or facing other extreme circumstances happening in life like while you are being hunted.
Action is always within reach, though there are times when external forces—such as illness or life-threatening danger—can render it impossible. The urgency to act remains ever-present, but certain circumstances demand patience and survival before action can be executed. In such instances, the time to do right is deferred, but the commitment to action needs to endure, waiting for the right moment—when your life is not threatened— to be fulfilled.
Adaptability—walking when running isn’t an option
Not every battle can be fought at full speed. There are times when exhaustion overpowers you, when circumstances beyond our control force us to slow down. In such moments, walking symbolizes adaptability—the ability to adjust our pace without losing sight of our destination.
Adaptability is crucial in an ever-changing world. Businesses must pivot when markets shift; athletes must modify their training when injuries arise; individuals must reimagine their dreams when faced with unforeseen circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, have forced countless people to rethink their careers, lifestyles, and priorities. Those who have adapted have found ways to continue progressing, even if at a slower pace.
Walking may not be as exhilarating as running or flying, but it still constitutes a movement. It teaches patience, strategy, and the importance of steady, incremental progress. As long as we keep moving, we are still on the path to success.
Unwavering commitment: crawling, when there arises no other choice
Sometimes, life knocks us down so hard that even walking becomes impossible. During such times, crawling is the only way forward. Crawling represents the sheer willpower to keep going, even when every step feels unbearable. It is the essence of true perseverance—the refusal to surrender, no matter how extremely slow or painful the journey.
History is filled with stories of individuals who have faced insurmountable odds yet found ways to press on. Helen Keller, blind and deaf from infancy, could have accepted a life of silence and darkness, yet she clawed her way toward knowledge and communication, ultimately becoming an author and activist. Her ability to crawl when all seemed hopeless forms a testament to human resilience.
In our own lives, we may face moments of despair—losing a loved one, experiencing a devastating failure, or battling severe illness. In those moments, the key is to accomplish whatever it takes to continue. Progress, no matter how small, is still progress. Even while crawling, we are still moving forward, and that constitutes what truly matters.
Conclusion: the unstoppable spirit of progress
King Jr.’s words encapsulate a universal truth: progress comes in many forms, and no effort is too small. Whether we are flying, running, walking, or crawling, the key is to never stop moving forward. Life’s challenges will test our resolve, but our response determines our destiny.
Each phase—ambition, resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment—plays a crucial role in our journey. Success is not about how fast we reach our goals but about our determination to continue despite the hurdles. The ability to persist, no matter the pace, represents the true mark of greatness. So, whatever challenges you face, remember: keep moving forward. Even the slowest progress is better than standing still. Your journey is not defined by how fast you go, but by your refusal to stop.
There are real-life examples which corroborate Dr. King’s statement. The late Stephen Hawking is one of them. Diagnosed with ALS at 21, Hawking’s body gradually deteriorated, but his mind remained sharp. He continued his groundbreaking work in theoretical physics, inspiring the world by pushing through the limitations imposed by his illness.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS constitutes one of several types of motor neuron diseases. It progressively and unavoidably paralyzes patients, generally claiming their life in approximately four years. Hawking however survived for 55 years with the incurable illness.
Britannica says “Hawking’s work greatly spurred efforts to theoretically delineate the properties of black holes, objects about which it was previously thought that nothing could be known. His work was also important because it showed these properties’ relationship to the laws of classical thermodynamics and quantum mechanics. Hawking’s contributions to physics earned him many exceptional honours.”
“In 1974 the Royal Society elected him one of its youngest fellows. He became professor of gravitational physics at Cambridge in 1977, and in 1979 he was appointed to Cambridge’s Lucasian professorship of mathematics, a post once held by Isaac Newton. Hawking was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1982 and a Companion of Honour in 1989. He also received the Copley Medal from the Royal Society in 2006 and the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.”
A black hole is a region in space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. It forms when a massive star collapses under its own gravity, creating a point called a singularity. The Physicist Stephen Hawking discovered that black holes are not completely black—they slowly lose energy over time through a process called Hawking radiation. This means that black holes can eventually shrink and disappear, challenging the idea that they trap everything forever. The term “black” in black holes refers to the fact that they do not emit or reflect any light, making them appear completely dark. This happens because their gravity is so strong that even light cannot escape, once it crosses the event horizon. NASA—National Aeronautics and Space Administration— says “Black holes don’t emit or reflect light, making them effectively invisible to telescopes.”