Quotes from Malcolm X

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.

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

People don't realize how a man's whole life can be changed by one book.

To me, the thing that is worse than death is betrayal. You see, I could conceive death, but I could not conceive betrayal.

If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.

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

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

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.

So early in my life, I had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise.

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

Hence I have no mercy or compassion in me for a society that will crush people, and then penalize them for not being able to stand up under the weight.

Truth is on the side of the oppressed.

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

A wise man can play the part of a clown, but a clown can't play the part of a wise man.

Why am I as I am? To understand that of any person, his whole life, from Birth must be reviewed. All of our experiences fuse into our personality. Everything that ever happened to us is an ingredient.

I believe that there will be ultimately be a clash between the oppressed and those who do the oppressing. I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the system of exploitation. I believe that there will be that kind of clash, but I don't think it will be based on the color of the skin...

How can you thank a man for giving you what's already yours? How then can you thank him for giving you only part of what is yours?

I see America through the eyes of the victim. I don't see any American dream--I see an American nightmare.