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."

“Truth is on the side of the oppressed.”

— Malcolm X

Truth

All Quotes by Malcolm X

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

— Malcolm X

Power

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

— Malcolm X

Patriotism

“History is a people's memory, and without a memory, man is demoted to the lower animals.”

— Malcolm X

History

“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

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

— Malcolm X

Education

“You don't have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being.”

— Malcolm X

Freedom

“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

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

— Malcolm X

Education

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

— Malcolm X

Failure

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

— Malcolm X

Intelligence

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

— Malcolm X

Future

“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

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

— Malcolm X

Freedom

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

— Malcolm X

Good

“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

“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

“Without education, you are not going anywhere in this world.”

— Malcolm X

Education

“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