22 Inspiring Malala Quotes on Her 22nd Birthday

The youngest Nobel Prize laureate turns 22 today.

Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by a member of the Taliban while sitting on a school bus in 2012. She survived — and used her voice to champion women’s empowerment and ensure every girl, everywhere has access to an education.

Since then, Malala has spoken before the U.N., written an autobiography, and won both the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought and the Nobel Peace Prize. And she hasn't backed down on her relentless dedication to empowering women and girls around the world.

Malala is one of our absolute favorite activists, so we’re celebrating her 22nd birthday with 22 of her most inspirational quotes.

1. “ We cannot succeed when half of us are held back.”

2. “We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave — to embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potential.”

3. "LET US MAKE OUR FUTURE NOW, AND LET US MAKE OUR DREAMS TOMORROW'S REALITY."

4. “If people were silent nothing would change.”

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

6. “I am stronger than fear.”

7. “I don’t want to be thought of as the “girl who was shot by the Taliban” but the “girl who fought for education.” 

8. “If you want to end war, then instead of sending guns, send books. Instead of sending tanks, send pens. Instead of sending soldiers, send teachers”

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

10. “If one man can destroy everything, why can't one girl change it?”

11. "It is very important to know who you are. To make decisions. To show who you are."

12. “Extremists have shown what frightens them most: a girl with a book.” 

13. "Education is neither Eastern nor Western, it is human.” 

14. “I don’t cover my face because I want to show my identity.”

15. "Even if I am a girl, even if people think I can’t do it, I should not lose hope." 

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

17. “I speak not for myself, but for those without voice.”

18. "Life isn't just about taking in oxygen and giving out carbon dioxide."

19. "There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a third power stronger than both, that of women."

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

21. "A girl's voice is powerful and it can bring change in the community." 

22. “ONE CHILD, ONE TEACHER, ONE BOOK, ONE PEN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.”