'He named her Malala', a documentary about the 19-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner's life, was released yesterday in the US. Here are ten quotes from the young activist who survived a shot to the head, speaking on the power of education in changing the world.
1. "Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world."
2. "I don't want to be remembered as the girl who was shot. I want to be remembered as the girl who stood up."
3. "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."
4. "If he [the Talib] comes, what would you do Malala? ...If you hit a Talib with your shoe, then there will be no difference between you and the Talib. You must not treat others...with cruelty...you must fight others but through peace, through dialogue and through education...then I'll tell him [the Talib] how important education is and that I even want education for your children as well... that's what I want to tell you, now do what you want."
5. "I truly believe the only way we can create global peace is through not only educating our minds, but our hearts and our souls."
6. "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."
7. "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'."
8. "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."
9. "I raise up my voice not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. We cannot succeed when half of us are held back."
10. "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 fights. Their right to live in peace. Their right to be treated with dignity. Their right to equality of opportunity. Their right to be educated."
