Malcolm X

Malcolm X

26 quotes

American civil rights activist Malcolm X has a gift for language that makes complex ideas feel instantly clear. Malcolm X's observations on Freedom are as sharp as their thoughts on Time, revealing genuine breadth of mind. 33 of Malcolm X's sharpest quotes live here, spanning themes of Freedom, Time, Respect, Education, and Truth. Here is a taste of their wisdom: "Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man, you take it."

“There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.”

— Malcolm X

Time

All Quotes by Malcolm X

“If you have no critics you'll likely have no success.”

— Malcolm X

Success

“If you're not ready to die for it, put the word 'freedom' out of your vocabulary.”

— Malcolm X

Freedom

“You can't legislate good will - that comes through education.”

— Malcolm X

Education

“Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man, you take it.”

— Malcolm X

Equality

“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

— Malcolm X

Future

“You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.”

— Malcolm X

Freedom

“The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”

— Malcolm X

Power

“The Negro revolution is controlled by foxy white liberals, by the Government itself. But the Black Revolution is controlled only by God.”

— Malcolm X

God

“I believe in the brotherhood of all men, but I don't believe in wasting brotherhood on anyone who doesn't want to practice it with me. Brotherhood is a two-way street.”

— Malcolm X

Men

“Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression.”

— Malcolm X

Freedom

“Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery.”

— Malcolm X

Respect

“You're not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it.”

— Malcolm X

Patriotism

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

— Malcolm X

Education

“Truth is on the side of the oppressed.”

— Malcolm X

Truth

“In all our deeds, the proper value and respect for time determines success or failure.”

— Malcolm X

Failure

“I believe in a religion that believes in freedom. Any time I have to accept a religion that won't let me fight a battle for my people, I say to hell with that religion.”

— Malcolm X

Freedom

“I don't even call it violence when it's in self defense I call it intelligence.”

— Malcolm X

Intelligence

“I have more respect for a man who lets me know where he stands, even if he's wrong. Than the one who comes up like an angel and is nothing but a devil.”

— Malcolm X

Respect

“My Alma mater was books, a good library... I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.”

— Malcolm X

Good

“Power never takes a back step only in the face of more power.”

— Malcolm X

Power