Malcolm X Quotes: Empowering Words from a Civil Rights Icon

A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.

Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow 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.

If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.

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

I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being first and foremost, and as such, I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.

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.

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

The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.

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

I believe that there will ultimately be a clash between the oppressed and those that do the oppressing.

Stumbling is not falling.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

We declare our right on this earth…to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.

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

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

The price of freedom is death.

I believe in human rights for everyone, and none of us is qualified to judge each other and that none of us should therefore have that authority.

I am neither a fanatic nor a dreamer. I am a black man who loves peace, and justice, and loves his people.

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.

I’m non-violent with those who are non-violent with me.

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 says it.

I don’t even want to use the word ‘intellectual’ with myself, because I’m a fan of Allah.

Dr. King wants the same thing I want. Freedom.

Sometimes you have to pick the gun up to put the gun down.

You don’t have a peaceful revolution. You don’t have a turn-the-other-cheek revolution. There’s no such thing as a nonviolent revolution.

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.

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

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

To have once been a criminal is no disgrace. To remain a criminal is the disgrace.

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 says it.

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

There’s no such thing as a nonviolent revolution.

We declare our right on this earth…to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.

Usually when people are sad, they don’t do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about change.

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

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

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

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 says it.

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.

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

I am not racist I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination. I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.

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