Top 75 Malala Yousafzai Quotes

Pakistanis can’t trust. They’ve seen in history that people, particularly politicians, are corrupt. And they’re misguided by people in the name of Islam. They’re told: ‘Malala is not a Muslim, she’s not in purdah, she’s working for America.’

The important thing to note is that it is not important whether Malala was shot or not – Malala is not asking for personal favors or support. She is asking for support with girls’ education and women’s rights. So don’t support Malala, support her campaign for girls’ education and women’s rights.

If you hit a Talib with your shoe, then there would be no difference between you and the Talib. You must not treat others with cruelty and that much harshly, you must fight others but through peace and through dialogue and through education.

I hope that one day when I’ll go back to Pakistan, I will build a university like Harvard.

I don’t have a phone, but I do have an iPad.

I speak not for myself but for those without voice… 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.

Some people only ask others to do something. I believe that, why should I wait for someone else? Why don’t I take a step and move forward.

Education is neither eastern nor western.

I was a girl in a land where rifles are fired in celebration of a son, while daughters are hidden away behind a curtain, their role in life simply to prepare food and give birth to children.

I’m not becoming western; I am still following my Pashtun culture, and I’m wearing a shalvar kamiz, a dupatta on my head.

Honor your daughters. They are honorable.

I am a daughter. My father is an example for me.

On the day when I was shot, all of my friends’ faces were covered, except mine.

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

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

I might be afraid of ghosts and like dragons and those things, but I’m not afraid of the Taliban.

We women are going to bring change. We are speaking up for girls’ rights, but we must not behave like men, like they have done in the past.

I was born a proud daughter of Pakistan, though like all Swatis I thought of myself first as a Swati and Pashtun, before Pakistani.

I fully support U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his Global Education First Initiative and the work of U.N. Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown and the respectful president of the U.N. General Assembly Vuk Jeremic. I thank them for the leadership they continue to give.

My father always says that heroism is in the Pashtun DNA.

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

Pakistan is a peace-loving, democratic country.

I thanked President Obama for the United States’ work in supporting education in Pakistan and Afghanistan and for Syrian refugees.

If you don’t focus on the future generation, it means you are destroying your country.

Some parents do not send their children to school because they don’t know its importance at all.

Some girls cannot go to school because of the child labor and child trafficking.

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.

I know now that what countries do at summits has the power to help girls in Pakistan, Nigeria or Afghanistan.

I want to make this world perfect.

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.

When God created man and woman, he was thinking, ‘Who shall I give the power to, to give birth to the next human being?’ And God chose woman. And this is the big evidence that women are powerful.

What is interesting is the power and the impact of social media… So we must try to use social media in a good way.

In every country, politics is considered to be a waste of time.

When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.

I think life is always dangerous. Some people get afraid of it. Some people don’t go forward. But some people, if they want to achieve their goal, they have to go. They have to move… We have seen the barbaric situation of the 21st century in Swat. So why should I be afraid now?

I enjoy science, and I’m a very curious person. I always want to know the reason behind everything, big or small.

There should be no discrimination against languages people speak, skin color, or religion.

Terrorism will spill over if you don’t speak up.

In some parts of the world, students are going to school every day. It’s their normal life. But in other part of the world, we are starving for education… it’s like a precious gift. It’s like a diamond.

My story is the story of thousands of children from around the world. I hope it inspires others to stand up for their rights.

Even we schoolchildren know that ordinary diplomats don’t drive around in unmarked cars carrying Glock pistols.

There’s no place like home. And I do miss my home.

A doctor can only treat patients. A doctor can only help the people who are shot or who are injured. But a politician can stop people from injuries. A politician can take a step so that no person is scared tomorrow.

I need to complete my homework on time.

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.

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 were born.

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.

I don’t know why people have divided the whole world into two groups, west and east. Education is neither eastern nor western. Education is education and it’s the right of every human being.

I think I have a right to live my life the way I like.

On the day when I was shot, and on the next day, people raised the banners of ‘I am Malala’. They did not say ‘I am Taliban.’

You cannot rely on other people’s support.

I will only miss school for an engagement if it is going to bring real change.

In many countries, they do not even keep track of how girls are doing in school, or if they are there at all. If we say, ‘Girls count,’ then we must count girls, so we can see if we are really making progress in educating every girl.

I want poverty to end in tomorrow’s Pakistan. I want every girl in Pakistan to go to school.

I only get angry at my brothers and at my father.

I’m often in the company of adults, so it’s nice to meet girls my age or younger.

And also I didn’t want my future to be just sitting in a room and be imprisoned in my four walls and just cooking and giving birth to children. I didn’t want to see my life in that way.

Dear sisters and brothers, we realize the importance of light when we see darkness.

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… By giving me this height to reach people, he has also given me great responsibilities.

I’m not a character like Rapunzel or Cinderella; my story looks like any other.

I realized that becoming a doctor, I can only help a small community. But by becoming a politician, I can help my whole country.

We must tell girls their voices are important.

I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there was a gun in my hand and he stands in front of me, I would not shoot him.

I am not telling men to step away from speaking for women’s rights; rather, I am focusing on women to be independent to fight for themselves.

I will get my education – if it is in home, school, or anyplace.

It’s good to fight with your brothers, and it’s good to tease them to give them advice.

The best way to solve problems and to fight against war is through dialogue.

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

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

When I was born, some of our relatives came to our house and told my mother, ‘Don’t worry, next time you will have a son.’

I say I am stronger than fear.

In India, innocent and poor children are victims of child labor.

It’s quite difficult for a parent to know that their daughter is in great danger.

Thank you to the children whose innocent words encouraged me.