Did Martin Luther King, Jr. say that “I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy”?

Question

Did Martin Luther King, Jr. say

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy

It's been going around the tweeterwebs today in response to Osama bin Laden's death.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Answer 1

The source of the quote:

@pennjillette I am the original author of the "MLK" quote. Somewhere my words got mixed with his. The post: http://i.stack.imgur.com/cqtjw.jpg

The original author said "I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy", and then quoted Martin Luther King jr.

Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Answer 2

"There is within us a moral instinct which forbids us to rejoice at the death of even an enemy."

-- Henryk Sienkiewicz, Without Dogma (1891)

Full text at Project Gutenberg

So, if Martin Luther King, Jr. did say it, he was likely paraphrasing Sienkiewicz (whether knowingly or unknowingly).

Answer 3

"The meaning of this story is not found in the drowning of the Egyptian soldiers, for no one should rejoice at the death or defeat of a human being. Rather, this story symbolizes the death of evil and of inhuman oppression and unjust exploitation." Martin Luther King Jr, Strength to Love, page 79