National Hero Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican political activist, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and speaker.

During his career, Garvey travelled extensively throughout many countries, observing the poor working and living conditions of black people.

In 1916, Garvey went to the United States where he preached his doctrine of freedom to the oppressed blacks throughout the country.

He began lecturing in New York City, hoping to make a career as a public speaker, although at his first public speech he was heckled and fell off the stage.

This did not deter him. From New York, he embarked on a US speaking tour, crossing 38 states.

He was the founder and first President-General of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League, popularly known as the UNIA.

Garvey is also known as the man behind the Black Star Line, seeking to challenge white supremacy of the maritime industry.

Garvey’s legacy can be summed up in the philosophy he taught – race pride, the need for African unity; self-reliance; the need for black people to be organised and for rulers to govern on behalf of the working classes.

Over the year, Garvey has inspired many through his teachings and his philosophies. He was conferred with membership in the Order of the National Hero in 1969.

Singer Burning Spear, said it best in his song Marcus Garvey Word Come to Pass.

Here are 10 quotes by National Hero Marcus Garvey.

1.“The pen is mightier than the sword, but the tongue is mightier than them both put together.”

2.“When all else fails to organise the people, conditions will.” 

3.“Intelligence rules the world, ignorance carries the burden.” 

4.“The Black skin is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness.”

5. “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”

6. “The ends you serve that are selfish will take you no further than yourself but the ends you serve that are for all, in common, will take you into eternity.”

7. “If you haven’t confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started.”

8. “God and Nature first made us what we are, and then out of our own created genius we make ourselves what we want to be. Follow always that great law. Let the sky and God be our limit and Eternity our measurement.”

9. “Liberate the minds of men and ultimately you will liberate the bodies of men.”

10.“We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery, for though others may free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Mind is our only ruler; sovereign.”