Quotes by Malcolm X

“Power never takes a back step only in the face of more power”

“I believe in a religion that believes in freedom. Any time I have to accept a religion that wont let me fight a battle for my people, I say to hell with that religion.”

“You show me a capitalist, and Ill show you a bloodsucker.”

“It is impossible for capitalism to survive, primarily because the system of capitalism needs some blood to suck. Capitalism used to be like an eagle, but now its more like a vulture. It used to be strong enough to go and suck anybodys blood whether they were strong or not. But now it has become more cowardly, like the vulture, and it can only suck the blood of the helpless. As the nations of the world free themselves, the capitalism has less victims, less to suck, and it becomes weaker and weaker. Its only a matter of time in my opinion before it will collapse completely.”

“You cant legislate good will - that comes through education”

“I believe in the brotherhood of all men, but I dont believe in wasting brotherhood on anyone who doesnt want to practice it with me. Brotherhood is a two-way street.”

“I am for violence if non-violence means we continue postponing a solution to the American black mans problem just to avoid violence”

“Its just like when youve got some coffee thats too black, which means its too strong. What do you do? You integrate it with cream, you make it weak. But if you pour too much cream in it, you wont even know you ever had coffee. It used to be hot, it becomes cool. It used to be strong, it becomes weak. It used to wake you up, now it puts you to sleep.”

“You dont have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being.”

“You can’t drive a knife into a man’s back nine inches, pull it out six inches, and call it progress.”

People dont realize how a mans whole life can be changed by one book.

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

Youre not to be so blind with patriotism that you cant face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.

You show me a capitalist, and Ill show you a bloodsucker

The only way well 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.

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

Truth is on the side of the oppressed.

The greatest mistake of the movement has been trying to organize a sleeping people around specific goals. You have to wake the people up first, then youll get action.

Despite my firm convictions, I have been always a man who tries to face facts, and to accept the reality of life as new experience and new knowledge unfolds it. I have always kept an open mind, which is necessary to the flexibility that must go hand in hand with every form of intelligent search for truth.

I’ve had enough of someone else’s propaganda… 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.