Original MLK quote: > The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
> ‘the ultimate measure of a [leader] is not where [they] stand in the moments of comfort and convenience, but where [they] stand in times of challenge and controversy,’
The use of brackets like this seems a bit dishonest. At least, I’ve usually seen them used to insert clarifying context about the original quote (because it might not be fully reproduced). The original quote seems to have not much to do with leadership, but instead be about personal virtue.
The brackets aren’t used to clarify at all, but to change the meaning of the “quote.” It isn’t a quote, it is another sentiment that is just written in the same shape as something MLK wrote.