35 Best Malcolm X Quotes (INSPIRATIONAL)

Top 10 Most Famous Malcolm X Quotes to Inspire You

A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.

The main thing you got to remember is that everything in the world is a hustle.

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

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.

A new world order is in the making, and it is up to us to prepare ourselves that we may take our rightful place in it.

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

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

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 next time.

If you have no critics you’ll likely have no success. — If you have no critics you’ll likely have no **success**.

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

16 Inspirational Malcolm X Quotes on Education, Love and Freedom (Any Means Necessary)

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

Children have a lesson adults should learn, to not be ashamed of failing, but to get up and try again.

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

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

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

You get freedom by letting your enemy know that you'll do anything to get your freedom; then you'll get it. It's the only way you'll get it. — You get **freedom** by letting your enemy know that you’ll do anything to get your freedom; then you’ll get it. It’s the only way you’ll get it.

“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

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

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

All of our experiences fuse into our personality. Everything that ever happened to us is an ingredient.

It is only after slavery and prison that the sweetest appreciation of freedom can come. — It is only after slavery and prison that the sweetest **appreciation** of **freedom** can come.

You don’t have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being. — 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 believe in treating people right, but I’m not going to waste my time trying to treat somebody right who doesn’t know how to return the treatment.

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. — 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**.

Anytime you rely on your enemy for a job you’re in bad shape.

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

9 Motivational Malcolm X Quotes on Racism and Violence

“I am not a 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.”
Malcolm X

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. — 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.

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

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.

Concerning nonviolence, it is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks.

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. — 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.

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

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

“A race of people is like an individual man; until it uses its own talent, takes pride in its own history, expresses its own culture, affirms its own selfhood, it can never fulfill itself.”
Malcolm X

Malcolm X Short Biography

Born 19 May 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, Malcolm Little, who later changed his name to Malcolm X, was an African American Leader in the Civil Rights Movement.

From a young age, Malcolm’s family had been plagued by white racists, who were speculated for having been the cause of his father’s death.

In 1941, Malcolm dropped out of high school when his teacher had discouraged his dream of becoming a lawyer, stating that it was “no realistic goal for a nigger”. (Source)

Malcolm moved to Harlem in 1943 and it was here that he turned to drug dealing, robbery, and pimping. In February 1946, Malcolm was sentenced to 8 to 10 years in prison for the charge of breaking and entering.

While in jail Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam, an African American religious movement with combined elements of Islam beliefs.

He was released from jail in 1952, after his release he started organizing temples in New York and founded the Nation’s Newspaper; Muhammad Speaks.

Malcolm became an important figure in the African American civil rights movement. He was known for preaching on the streets and made appearances at Harvard University and the University of Oxford.

He was a proponent in changing the term “negro” to “Afro-American”.

Further Reading:

Who Really Killed Malcolm X? – The New York Times
Malcolm X Day: Who Was He and Why Was He Important? – BBC
Malcolm X Remembered as Civil Rights Leaders Grapple with New Protest Movement – The Guardian
Malcolm X: A Revolutionary Voice of Human Rights – Daily Sabah

Here are the best Malcolm X quotes so you can be encouraged to denounce racial injustices and strive for racial equality.

(MUST READ)

**The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley**

Also read:

Top 10 Most Famous Malcolm X Quotes to Inspire You

16 Inspirational Malcolm X Quotes on Education, Love and Freedom (Any Means Necessary)

9 Motivational Malcolm X Quotes on Racism and Violence

Malcolm X Short Biography

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