The extremists are afraid of books and pens, the power of education frightens them. they are afraid of women.

Let us pick up our books and our pens. They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.

If you hit a Talib, then there would be no difference between you and the Talib. You must not treat others with cruelty. You must fight others through peace and through dialogue and through education.

Outside his office my father had a framed copy of a letter written by Abraham Lincoln to his son's teacher, translated into Pashto. It is a very beautiful letter, full of good advice. Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books...But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and the flowers on a green hillside, it says. Teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat.

I don't want revenge on the Taliban, I want education for sons and daughters of the Taliban.

We are starving for education... it's like a precious gift. It's like a diamond.

When someone takes away your pens you realise quite how important education is.