Malala Yousafzai Quotes

The truth will abolish fear." When ~ Malala Yousafzai

We thought speaking in English meant you were more intelligent. We were wrong of course. It does not matter what language you choose, the important thing is the words you use to express yourself. ~ Malala Yousafzai

We liked to be known as the clever girls. When we decorated our hands with henna for holidays and weddings, we drew calculus and chemical formulae instead of flowers and butterflies. ~ Malala Yousafzai

It's not just the Taliban killing children. Sometimes it's drone attacks, sometimes it's wars, sometimes it's hunger. And sometimes it's their own family. In June two girls my age were murdered in Gilgit, which is a little north of Swat, for posting a video online showing themselves dancing in the rain wearing traditional dress and headscarves. Apparently their own stepbrother shot them. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Education is our basic right. Not just in the West; Islam too has given us this right. Islam says every girl and every boy should go to school. In the Quran it is written, God wants us to have knowledge. He wants us to know why the sky is blue and about oceans and stars. I know it's a big struggle - around the world there are fifty-seven million children who are not in primary school, thirty-two million of them girls. ~ Malala Yousafzai

We must "Bring Back Our Girls" and support Nigerians working every day to create change. Please donate now to support Nigerian organizations educating and standing up for girls ~ Malala Yousafzai

Outside of my home, I look like a very obedient, very serious, very good kind of girl, but nobody knows what happens inside the house. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I thanked President Obama for the United States' work in supporting education in Pakistan and Afghanistan and for Syrian refugees. ~ Malala Yousafzai

We Pashtuns love shoes but don't love the cobbler; we love our scarves and blankets but do not respect the weaver. Manual workers made a great contribution to our society but received no recognition, and this is the reason so many of them joined the Taliban - to finally achieve status and power. ~ Malala Yousafzai

In the future, women, rather than men, will be the ones to change the world. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Yet my father remained hopeful and believed there would be a day when there was an end to the destruction. What really depressed him was the looting of the destroyed schools - the furniture, the books, the computers, were all stolen by local people. He cried when he heard this. ~ Malala Yousafzai

My goal is to get peace and my goal is to see education of every child ~ Malala Yousafzai

When I was around four years old I asked my father, "Aba, what color are you?" He replied, "I don't know, a bit white, a bit black." "It's like when one mixes milk with tea," I said. He laughed a lot, but as a boy he had been so self-conscious about being dark-skinned that he went to the fields to get buffalo milk to spread on his face, thinking it would make him lighter. It was only when he met my mother that he became comfortable in his own skin. Being loved by such a beautiful girl gave him confidence. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Learn the literal meaning of the [Arabic] words; don't follow his explanations and interpretations. Only learn what God says. His words are divine messages, which you are free to interpret. ~ Malala Yousafzai

They thought that the bullets would silence us, but they failed. And out of that silence came thousands of voices. The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions. But nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born. ~ Malala Yousafzai

We must tell girls their voices are important. ~ Malala Yousafzai

At night our fear is strong ... but in the morning, in the light, we find our courage again. ~ Malala Yousafzai

There are many problems, but I think there is a solution to all these problems; it's just one, and it's education. ~ Malala Yousafzai

As I watched my brothers run up to the roof to launch their kites, I wondered how free I could ever really be. ~ Malala Yousafzai

We cannot succeed when half of us are held back. We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave, to embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potential. ~ Malala Yousafzai

the belief in one God; namaz, or prayers five times a day; giving zakat, or alms; roza, fasting from dawn till sunset during the month of Ramadan; and Haj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, which every able-bodied Muslim should do once in their lifetime. ~ Malala Yousafzai

When someone takes away your pens you realise quite how important education is. ~ Malala Yousafzai

It is my belief God sends the solution first and the problem later, replied Dr. Javid. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I distracted myself from the fear and terrorism by thinking about things like how the universe began and whether time travel is possible. ~ Malala Yousafzai

If you kill someone, it shows that you are afraid of that person. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Once I had asked God for one or two extra inches in height, but instead he made me as tall as the sky, so high that I could not measure myself. ~ Malala Yousafzai

[Taliban spokesman on Malala Yousafzai]
Malala Yousafzai targeted and criticized Islam. She was against Islam and we tried to kill her, and if we get a chance again we will definitely try to kill her, and we will feel proud killing her. ~ Shahidullah Shahid

People say Malala's voice is being sold to the world. But I see it as Malala's voice reaching the world and resonating globally. You should think about what is behind Malala's voice. What is she saying? I am only talking about education, women's rights, and peace. ~ Malala Yousafzai

There's no place like home. And I do miss my home. ~ Malala Yousafzai

He thought there was nothing more important than knowledge. He ~ Malala Yousafzai

While boys and men could roam freely about town, my mother and I could not go out without a male relative to accompany us, even if it was a five-year-old boy! This was the tradition. ~ Malala Yousafzai

In many parts of the world, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan, terrorism, war and conflict stop children to go to their schools. We are really tired of these wars. Women and children are suffering. ~ Malala Yousafzai

So here I stand, one girl among many. I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to live in peace. Their right to be treated with dignity. Their right to equality of opportunity. Their right to be educated. ~ Malala Yousafzai

God won't give you marks if you don't work hard God showers us with his blessings, but he is honest as well ~ Malala Yousafzai

A girl has the power to go forward in her life. And she's not only a mother, she's not only a sister, she's not only a wife. But a girl has the - she should have an identity. She should be recognized and she has equal rights as a boy. ~ Malala Yousafzai

It gets quite difficult for me when I listen to pop music. I don't often understand the words, but when someone translates them to me, I think, 'What is this song representing? That women are just there to be treated like objects?' ~ Malala Yousafzai

I haven't chosen any party yet because people choose parties when they get older. When it's time, I'll look, and if I can't find one to join, I'll make another party. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Someone gave me a copy of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, a fable about a shepherd boy who travels to the Pyramids in search of treasure when all the time it's at home. I loved that book and read it over and over again. 'When you want something all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it,' it says. I don't think that Paulo Coelho had come across the Taliban or our useless politicians. ~ Malala Yousafzai

But even if there were no threat, I believe that I must get an education to strengthen myself for the fight I will surely have against ignorance and terrorism. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I was reminded of our history lessons, in which we learned about the loot or bounty an army enjoys when a battle is won. I began to see the awards and recognition just like that. They were little jewels without much meaning. I needed to concentrate on winning the war. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Mullahs from the TNSM preached that the earthquake was a warning from God. They said it was caused by women's freedom and obscenity. If we did not mend our ways and introduce sharia or Islamic law, they shouted in their thundering voices, more severe punishment would come. ~ Malala Yousafzai

It's horrible to feel unworthy in the eyes of your parents. ~ Malala Yousafzai

His sisters
my aunts
did not go to school at all, just like millions of girls in my country. Education had been a great gift for him. He believed that lack of education was the root of all of Pakistan's problems. Ignorance allowed politicians to fool people and bad administrators to be re-elected. He believed schooling should be available for all, rich and poor, boys and girls. The school that my father dreamed of would have desks and a library, computers, bright posters on the walls and, most important, washrooms. ~ Malala Yousafzai

see the building after work. It was a perfect night with stars and a full moon just above the trees, which he took to be a sign. 'I felt so happy,' he recalls. 'My dream was coming true.' Naeem and my father invested their entire savings of 60,000 rupees. They borrowed 30,000 rupees more to repaint the building, rented a shack across the road to live in and went from door to door trying to find students. Unfortunately ~ Malala Yousafzai

What I get a bit angry about is the image of women. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Honor your daughters. They are honorable. ~ Malala Yousafzai

In Swat, there are two jobs a woman's going to do: a teacher or a doctor. If not, then become a housewife. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Fifty seven million children across the world don't want an iPhone, Xbox or chocolates. They want a book and pen. ~ Malala Yousafzai

That's when he lifted up a black pistol. I later learned it was a Colt .45. Some of the girls screamed. Moniba tells me I squeezed her hand. ~ Malala Yousafzai

A schoolgirl forbidden from school is like a bird forbidden from the sky. ~ J.L. Harlow,"Malala Yousafzai"

As we crossed the Malakand Pass I saw a young girl selling oranges. She was scratching marks on a scrap of paper with a nail to account for the oranges she had sold as she could not read or write. I took a photo of her and vowed I would do everything in my power to help educate girls just like her. This was the war I was going to fight. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I dreamed of going to the top of Mount Elum like Alexander the Great to touch Jupiter and even beyond the valley. But, as I watched my brother running across the roof, flying their kites and skillfully flicking the strings back and forth to cut each other's down, I wondered hoe free a daughter could ever be. ~ Malala Yousafzai

The best way to fight terrorism is to invest in education. Instead of sending weapons, send teachers. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Right from the start we were an unlucky country. ~ Malala Yousafzai

When I was young I used to listen to other people and to try and understand what they thought and where they were coming from. I listened and didn't speak. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Then our voices will only multiply even if we are dead. We can't disown our campaign! People ~ Malala Yousafzai

To all the girls who have faced injustice and silenced.
Together we will be heard. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I had 2 choices, be silent and get killed, or speak up and be killed, I chose the second option. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I don't know what would I do in future; I'll decide it later. ~ Malala Yousafzai

My dream is to see every girl educated, in every country. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Why send a daughter to school?" the men often say. "She doesn't need an education to run a house. ~ Malala Yousafzai

When I look at my goal, my goal is peace. ~ Malala Yousafzai

On his daughter Malala Yousafzai: When she was very small I used to say to her, 'tell me Malala, how is the school going?' And she'd say 'it is so-so, you should change this and this ... ' I trusted her wisdom. ~ Ziauddin Yousafzai

I would tell him that shoot me but first listen to me. And I would tell him that education is my right and education is the right of your daughter and son a well. And I'm speaking up for them. I'm speaking up for peace. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I truly believe the only way we can create global peace is through not only educating our minds, but our hearts and our souls. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I want education for the sons and the daughters of all the extremists, especially the Taliban. ~ Malala Yousafzai

In countries other than Pakistan - I won't necessarily call them 'Western' - people support me. This is because people there respect others. They don't do this because I am a Pashtun or a Punjabi, a Pakistani, or an Iranian, they do it because of one's words and character. This is why I am being respected and supported there. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I believe in my religion and in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the sins of mankind. What did your Prophet Mohammed ever do to save mankind? (as quoted from Asia Bibi sentenced to hang for anti-Muslim blasphemy) ~ Malala Yousafzai

I reassured my mother that it didn't matter to me if my face was not symmetrical. Me, who had always cared about my appearance, how my hair looked! But when you see death, things change. "It doesn't matter if I can't smile or blink properly," I told her. "I'm still me, Malala. The important thing is God has given me my life. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I am very proud to be a Pashtun, but sometimes I think our code of conduct has a lot to answer for, particularly where the treatment of women is concerned. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books ... But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and the flowers on a green hillside, ~ Malala Yousafzai

What a strange world it was when a girl who wanted to go to school had to defy militants with machine guns - as well as her own family. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I have spoken to world leaders and encouraged them to raise the education budgets of their countries and pushed powerful nations to give greater education aid to developing ones. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Through the Malala Fund, I decided to advocate for the education of Syrian refugees in Jordan. I went to the Syrian border and witnessed scores of refugees fleeing into Jordan. They had walked through the desert to get there with just the clothes on their backs. Many children had no shoes. I broke down and cried as I witnessed their suffering. In the refugee settlements most of the children were not going to school. Sometimes there was no school. Sometimes it was unsafe to walk to school. And sometimes children were working instead of being educated because their father had been killed. I saw many children on the roadside in this hot, hot weather, asking for work, such as carrying heavy stones, in order to feed their families. I just felt such pain in my heart. What is their sin, what have they done that they've had to migrate? Why are these innocent children suffering such hardship? Why are they deprived of school and a peaceful environment? ~ Malala Yousafzai

I love physics because it is about truth, a world determined by principles and laws - no messing around or twisting things like in politics, particularly those in my country. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I think everyone makes a mistake at least once in their life. The important thing is what you learn from it. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I discovered Deborah Ellis's books in the school library after my head teacher encouraged me to go beyond the school curriculum and look for books I might enjoy. ~ Malala Yousafzai

To sit down on a chair and read my books with all my friends at school is my right. To see each and every human being with a smile of happiness is my wish. I am Malala. My world has changed but I have not. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I don't want to be thought of as the "girl who was shot by the Taliban" but the "girl who fought for education." This is the cause to which I want to devote my life. ~ Malala Yousafzai

One year ago I left my home for school and never returned. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I have the right of education. I have the right to play. I have the right to sing. I have the right to talk. I have the right to go to market. I have the right to speak up. ~ Malala Yousafzai

should start preparing for my funeral. I had been ~ Malala Yousafzai

I don't cover my face because I want to show my identity. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I couldn't understand what the Taliban were trying to do. "They are abusing our religion," I said in interviews. "How will you accept Islam if I put a gun to your head and say Islam is the true religion? If they want every person in the world to be Muslim, why don't they show themselves to be good Muslims first? ~ Malala Yousafzai

The content of a book holds the power of education and it is with this power that we can shape our future and change lives. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I want to have fun, but I don't quite know how. ~ Malala Yousafzai

We were scared, but our fear was not as strong as our courage. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Books can capture injustices in a way that stays with you and makes you want to do something about them. That's why they are so powerful. ~ Malala Yousafzai

The challenging of repression by a new generation of activists - from Malala Yousafzai to Pussy Riot - across the globe reminded us how many women are still fighting for basic human rights. Our great-grandmothers' struggle in all its shocking detail seemed so relevant. ~ Sarah Gavron

For my brothers it was easy to think about the future. They can be anything they want. But for me it was hard and for that reason I wanted to become educated and empower myself with knowledge. ~ Malala Yousafzai

I had a terrible dream yesterday with military helicopters and the Taliban. I have had such dreams since the launch of the military operation in Swat. My mother made me breakfast and I went off to school. I was afraid going to school because the Taliban had issued an edict banning all girls from attending schools. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Books are a better investment in our future than bullets. Books, not bullets, will pave the path towards peace and prosperity. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Malala Day is not my day. Today is the day of every woman, every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights ~ Malala Yousafzai

One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.' I ~ Malala Yousafzai

I have already seen death, and I know that death is supporting me in my cause of education. Death does not want to kill me. ~ Malala Yousafzai

Pakistan is a peace-loving, democratic country. ~ Malala Yousafzai

There are so many figures in our history that did not believe they could make a change, and they did. ~ Malala Yousafzai

At night when I used to sleep, I was thinking all the time that shall I put a knife under my pillow. ~ Malala Yousafzai

It is very important to know who you are. To make decisions. To show who you are. ~ Malala Yousafzai