98 quotes
It takes two to tango; when I go, you go.
Speech in Cleveland, Ohio (1964)
"They cripple the bird's wing, and then condemn it for not flying as fast as they."
Malcolm X on Zionism (1964)
I don't believe in any form of unjustified extremism! But when a man is exercising extremism — a human being is exercising extremism — in defense of liberty for human beings it's no vice, and when one is moderate in the pursuit of justice for human beings I say he is a sinner.
Human rights are something you were born with. Human rights are your God-given rights. Human rights are the rights that are recognized by all nations of this earth. And any time any one violates your human rights, you can take them to the world court.
Speech in Cleveland, Ohio (1964)
Education is an important element in the struggle for human rights. It is the means to help our children and our people rediscover their identity and thereby increase their self respect. Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs only to the people who prepare for it today.
By Any Means Necessary (1970)
To the same degree that your understanding of and attitude towards Afrika becomes more positive, your understanding of and attitude towards yourself will also become more positive...
President Kennedy never foresaw that the chickens would come home to roost so soon. Being an old farm boy myself, chickens coming home to roost never did make me sad; they've always made me glad.
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.
By Any Means Necessary (1970)
Ignorance of each other is what has made unity impossible in the past. Therefore we need enlightenment. We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, and patience creates unity. Once we have more knowledge (light) about each other, we will stop condemning each other and a United front will be brought about.
As I say, if we bring up religion we'll have differences; we'll have arguments; and we'll never be able to get together.
Speech in Detroit, Michigan (1964)
We didn't land on Plymouth Rock. The rock was landed on us.
A ballot is like a bullet. You don't throw your ballots until you see a target, and if that target is not within your reach, keep your ballot in your pocket.
Speech in Cleveland, Ohio (1964)
How can anyone be against love?
By Any Means Necessary (1970)
It'll be liberty, or it will be death. The only difference about this kind of death—it'll be reciprocal.
Speech in Cleveland, Ohio (1964)
Stop singing and start swinging. You can't sing up on freedom, but you can swing up on some freedom. Cassius Clay can sing, but singing didn't help him to become the heavyweight champion of the world; swinging helped him become the heavyweight champion.
There is nothing in our book, the Qur'an, that teaches us to suffer peacefully. Our religion teaches us to be intelligent. Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone lays a hand on you, send him to the cemetery. That's a good religion.
Malcolm X Speaks (1965)
It'll be the ballot or it'll be the bullet. It'll be liberty or it'll be death. And if you're not ready to pay that price don't use the word freedom in your vocabulary.
Speech in Detroit, Michigan (1964)
They call me "a teacher, a fomenter of violence." I would say point blank, "That is a lie. I'm not for wanton violence, I'm for justice."
The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965)
I don't see any American dream; I see an American nightmare.
Speech in Cleveland, Ohio (1964)
I'm not an American. I'm one of the 22 million black people who are the victims of Americanism. One of the 22 million black people who are the victims of democracy, nothing but disguised hypocrisy.
Speech in Cleveland, Ohio (1964)