Malala Yousafzai

I tell my story not because it is unique, but because it is the story of many girls.

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

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

Let us pick up our books and our pens. They are our most powerful weapons.

One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.

If people were silent, nothing would change.

I raise up my voice not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.

We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.

Education is not a privilege, it is a right.

I believe that the best way to solve problems is through dialogue.

Peace in every home, every street, every village, every country – this is my dream. Education for every boy and every girl in the world. 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.

My father always said, 'You can do anything. You can be anyone.'

The terrorists thought that 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.

We must not forget that millions of children are out of school. We must not forget that our sisters and brothers are suffering from terrorism and war.

I truly believe that we are all equal, and we all deserve equal opportunities.

The Taliban could take our pens and books, but they could not stop our minds from thinking.

I don't think I'm extraordinary. I'm just a girl who wants to be educated.

The more you learn, the more you realize how much you don't know.

It is not a matter of East or West, it is a matter of humanity.

I speak not for myself but for those without voice — those who have fought for their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, their right to be educated.