We felt like the Taliban saw us as little dolls to control, telling us what to do and how to dress. I thought if God wanted us to be like that He wouldn't have made us all different.

Let us pick up our books and pencils. They are our most powerful weapon.

This is the philosophy of nonviolence that I have learned from Gandhi, Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa.

Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow's reality.

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.

We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.

We should not be followers of traditions that go against human rights...we are human beings and we make traditions.