Malcolm X – Inspiring Quotes by the Civil Rights Activist

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

A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.

Don’t be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn’t do what you do, or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.

The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.

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

I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.

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

If you have no critics, you’ll likely have no success.

The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose.

I don’t even call it violence when it’s in self-defense; I call it intelligence.

You can’t legislate good will – that comes through education.

If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life.

We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, and patience creates unity.

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.

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

Malcolm X – Inspiring Quotes by the Civil Rights Activist part 2

My alma mater was books, a good library. I could spend the rest of my life reading.

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

I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.

If you’re not ready to die for it, put the word ‘freedom’ out of your vocabulary.

Don’t be afraid to see what you see.

I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination.

Racism is a human problem, and a crime that is absolutely so ghastly that a person who is fighting against racism is well within his rights to fight.

We cannot think of being acceptable to others until we have first proven acceptable to ourselves.

I don’t favor violence. If we could bring about recognition and respect of our people by peaceful means, well and good. Everybody would like to reach his objectives peacefully. But I’m also a realist.

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.

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

I am for violence if non-violence means we continue postponing a solution to the American black man’s problem just to avoid violence.

I don’t judge a man by the color of his skin. I judge a man by his actions.

Time is on the side of the oppressed today, it’s against the oppressor. Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it’s against the oppressor. You don’t need anything else.

Without education, you’re not going anywhere in this world.

There can be no black-white unity until there is first some black unity.

I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.

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

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.

My father didn’t know his real name. My father got his name from his grandfather, and his grandfather got it from his grandfather, who got it from the slavemaster.

The ability to read awoke inside me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive.

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

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

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.

Sitting at the table doesn’t make you a diner, unless you eat some of what’s on that plate. Being here in America doesn’t make you an American. Being born here in America doesn’t make you an American.

When you have nine dollars and you buy two eggs and a loaf of bread, you’re taxed three cents.

The only way we’ll get freedom for ourselves is to identify ourselves with every oppressed people in the world. We are blood brothers to the people of Brazil, Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba — yes Cuba too.

If you can’t find a way, make one.

I don’t even call it violence when it’s in self-defense; I call it intelligence.

I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination.