# The Autobiography of Malcolm X - Author: [Malcolm X](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-x.md) - Quotes: 12 - Book page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-x/the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x ## Quotes > 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's for or against. I'm a human being first and foremost, and as such I am for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole. p. 400 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-x/the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x/ive-had-enough.md) > People don't realize how a man's whole life can be changed by one book. p. 400 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-x/the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x/people-dont-realize.md) > The young whites, and blacks, too, are the only hope that America has, the rest of us have always been living in a lie. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-x/the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x/the-young-whites.md) > I told the Englishman that my alma mater was books, a good library. Every time I catch a plane, I have with me a book that I want to read—and that's a lot of books these days. If I weren't out here every day battling the white man, I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity—because you can hardly mention anything I'm not curious about. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-x/the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x/i-told-the.md) > 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." I feel that if white people were attacked by Negroes — if the forces of law prove unable, or inadequate, or reluctant to protect those whites from those Negroes — then those white people should protect and defend themselves from those Negroes, using arms if necessary. And I feel that when the law fails to protect Negroes from whites' attacks, then those Negroes should use arms if necessary to defend themselves. "Malcolm X advocates armed Negroes!" What was wrong with that? I'll tell you what's wrong. I was a black man talking about physical defense against the white man. The white man can lynch and burn and bomb and beat Negroes — that's all right: "Have patience"..."The customs are entrenched"..."Things will get better." [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-x/the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x/they-call-me-a-teacher.md) > I have no mercy or compassion in me for a society that will crush people, and then penalize them for not being able to stand up under the weight. p. 22 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-x/the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x/i-have-no-mercy.md) > The next day I was in my car driving along the freeway when at a red light another car pulled alongside. A white woman was driving and on the passenger's side, next to me, was a white man. "Malcolm X!" he called out-and when I looked, he stuck his hand out of his car, across at me, grinning. "Do you mind shaking hands with a white man?" Imagine that! Just as the traffic light turned green, I told him, "I don't mind shaking hands with human beings. Are you one?" p. 418 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-x/the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x/the-next-day.md) > The only true world solution today is governments guided by true religion — of the spirit. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-x/the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x/the-only-true.md) > To me the earth's most explosive and pernicious evil is racism, the inability of God's creatures to live as One, especially in the Western world. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-x/the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x/to-me-the.md) > Any time you see someone more successful than you are, they are doing something you aren't. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-x/the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x/any-time-you.md) > Since I learned the truth in Mecca, my dearest friends have come to include all kinds — some Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, agnostics, and even atheists! I have friends who are called capitalists, Socialists, and Communists! Some of my friends are moderates, conservatives, extremists — some are even Uncle Toms! My friends today are black, brown, red, yellow, and white! p. 375 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-x/the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x/since-i-learned.md) > You trust them (white Americans), and I don't. You studied what he wanted you to learn about him in schools. I studied him in the streets and in prison, where you see the truth. [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/malcolm-x/the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x/you-trust-them.md)