--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel like a man who has been asleep…" description: "\"I feel like a man who has been asleep somewhat and under someone else's control. I feel that what I'm thinking and saying is now for myself. Before it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/malcolm-x-213_elijah_i-feel-like-a-man-who-has-been-asleep-so_3062868.jpg" --- # I feel like a man who has been asleep somewhat and under… ![“I feel like a man who has been asleep somewhat and under someone else's control. I feel that what I'm thinking and saying is now for myself. Before it was for and by the guidance of Elijah Muhammad. Now I think with my own mind, sir!” quote by Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/malcolm-x-213_elijah_i-feel-like-a-man-who-has-been-asleep-so_3062868.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/malcolm-x-213_elijah_i-feel-like-a-man-who-has-been-asleep-so_3062868.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/malcolm-x-213_elijah_i-feel-like-a-man-who-has-been-asleep-so_3062868.jpg) > “I feel like a man who has been asleep somewhat and under someone else's control. I feel that what I'm thinking and saying is now for myself. Before it was for and by the guidance of Elijah Muhammad. Now I think with my own mind, sir!” [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes breaking free from external ideological control to think independently. **In simple terms:** He reclaimed personal autonomy from imposed doctrine. Key Takeaway Cultivate independent thought. Themes freedom independence identity Mood defiant reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - education - spiritual practice - personal growth Key Concepts political ideology self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - What influences your core beliefs? - How to navigate ideological shifts? A Different Perspective Changing beliefs can be socially risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elijah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elijah/) [Elijah muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elijah-muhammad/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feel Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-like/) [Feel Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-thinking-479798/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Guidance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guidance/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muhammad/) [Muhammad Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muhammad-think-5145911/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said when the children of Israel rebelled against Moses and Aaron and did not want to leave their slavemaster to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/the-honorable-elijah-muhammad-said-when-the-children-of-israel/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [Don't condemn if you see a person has a dirty glass of water, just show them the clean glass of water that you have.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/don-t-condemn-if-you-see-a-person-has-a-dirty-glass-of-water-just/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [If the black man is allowed to separate and go into some land of his own where he can solve his own problems, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-the-black-man-is-allowed-to-separate-and-go-into-some-land-of-his/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [ The Honorable Elijah Muhammad says number one, \[Negro\] must know - have a knowledge of himself. And this gives him confidence in himself. He… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-honorable-elijah-muhammad-says-number-one-negro-must-know-have-a/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Jews who have been guilty of exploiting the black people in America, economically, civically, and otherwise, hide behind - hide their guilt by accusing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/jews-who-have-been-guilty-of-exploiting-the-black-people-in-america/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Because The Honorable Elijah Muhammad makes black people brave enough, men enough to defend ourselves no matter what the odds are, the white man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/because-the-honorable-elijah-muhammad-makes-black-people-brave-enough/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches us that God, now, is about to establish a kingdom on this earth, based upon brotherhood and peace. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-honorable-elijah-muhammad-teaches-us-that-god-now-is-about-to/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Just like Pharaoh couldn't get a solution to his problem until he talked to Moses, or Nebuchadnezzar or Belshazzar couldn't get a solution to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/just-like-pharaoh-couldn-t-get-a-solution-to-his-problem-until-he/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Only in this form of separation the black man is exploited. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad says that we should be separate, all right, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/only-in-this-form-of-separation-the-black-man-is-exploited-the/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [We reject segregation even more militantly than you say you do! We want separation, which is not the same! The Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/we-reject-segregation-even-more-militantly-than-you-say-you-do-we/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The thing that you have to understand about those of us in the Black Muslim movement was that all of us believed 100 percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-thing-that-you-have-to-understand-about-those-of-us-in-the-black/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The Honorable Elijah Muhammad says that if the - what should happen is the black man himself should learn how to develop himself, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-honorable-elijah-muhammad-says-that-if-the-what-should-happen-is/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [For 12 long years I lived within the narrow-minded confines of the 'straightjacket world' created by my strong belief that Elijah Muhammad was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/for-12-long-years-i-lived-within-the-narrow-minded-confines-of-the/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Since the white people collectively have practiced the worst form of hatred against Negroes in America and they know that they are guilty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/since-the-white-people-collectively-have-practiced-the-worst-form-of/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Moses tried to separate his people from Pharaoh, and when he tried, the magicians tried to fool the people into staying with the Pharaoh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/moses-tried-to-separate-his-people-from-pharaoh-and-when-he-tried-the/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More by Malcolm X > [If Christianity had asserted itself in Germany, six million Jews would have lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-christianity-had-asserted-itself-in-germany-six-million-jews-would/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Be nonviolent only with those who are nonviolent to you. And when you can bring me a nonviolent racist, bring me a nonviolent segregationist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/be-nonviolent-only-with-those-who-are-nonviolent-to-you-and-when-you/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [You can't legislate good will - that comes through education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/you-can-t-legislate-good-will-that-comes-through-education/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/truth-is-on-the-side-of-the-oppressed-today-it-s-against-the-oppressor/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Those type of whites who are always going to jail with Negroes are the ones who tell Negroes to be loving and be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/those-type-of-whites-who-are-always-going-to-jail-with-negroes-are/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [We Muslims believe that the white race, which is guilty of having oppressed and exploited and enslaved our people here in America, should and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/we-muslims-believe-that-the-white-race-which-is-guilty-of-having/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I mean a real police state just to get a token recognition of a law. It take, it took, I think, 15,000 troops and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-mean-a-real-police-state-just-to-get-a-token-recognition-of-a-law/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Like Samson, I am ready to pull down the white man's temple, knowing full well that I will be destroyed by the falling rubble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/like-samson-i-am-ready-to-pull-down-the-white-man-s-temple-knowing/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Any negro who occupies a position that was given to him by the white man, if you analyze his function, his function never enables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/any-negro-who-occupies-a-position-that-was-given-to-him-by-the-white/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Stumbling is not falling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/stumbling-is-not-falling/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [God is going to punish the white man for his misdeeds toward black people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/god-is-going-to-punish-the-white-man-for-his-misdeeds-toward-black/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Much of what I say might sound like it's stirring up trouble, but it's the truth!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/much-of-what-i-say-might-sound-like-it-s-stirring-up-trouble-but-it-s/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I believe in the brotherhood of all men, but I don't believe in wasting brotherhood on anyone who doesn't want to practice it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-believe-in-the-brotherhood-of-all-men-but-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) [Explore all 891 Malcolm X quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More Elijah quotes > [Before Elijah could raise a nation from the dead, he raised just one dead child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-engle/before-elijah-could-raise-a-nation-from-the-dead-he-raised-just-one/) [Lou Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-engle/) > [So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/so-ahab-went-up-to-eat-and-to-drink-and-elijah-went-up-to-the-top-of/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Many people are quick to say that we are not recognized by Muslims in the East . And I start with the Honorable Elijah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/many-people-are-quick-to-say-that-we-are-not-recognized-by-muslims-in/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We followed the Honorable Elijah Mohammed, who is the boss. And we don't waste a lot of time arguin' about a dead black man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/we-followed-the-honorable-elijah-mohammed-who-is-the-boss-and-we-don/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [ \[Elijah Wood\] has got such a broad outlook. It's so much bigger than just the acting industry. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/elijah-wood-has-got-such-a-broad-outlook-it-s-so-much-bigger-than/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Don't condemn if you see a person has a dirty glass of water, just show them the clean glass of water that you have.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/don-t-condemn-if-you-see-a-person-has-a-dirty-glass-of-water-just/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Since the white people collectively have practiced the worst form of hatred against Negroes in America and they know that they are guilty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/since-the-white-people-collectively-have-practiced-the-worst-form-of/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Elijah looks angelic but his beauty of spirit is what makes his Frodo leap out of the screen. Unalloyed goodness is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/elijah-looks-angelic-but-his-beauty-of-spirit-is-what-makes-his-frodo/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [The Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught us to eat fish during the month of Ramadan. He is breaking us away from meats. That was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/the-honorable-elijah-muhammad-taught-us-to-eat-fish-during-the-month/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [“Elijah told Ahab that the dogs would lick his blood, and so it came to pass, as you would imagine, since only the successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/elijah-told-ahab-that-the-dogs-would-lick-his-blood-and-so-it-came-to/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Elijah was brilliant in his response. He did not panic. He did not moralize with the distraught widow. He did not say, “I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-t-kendall/elijah-was-brilliant-in-his-response-he-did-not-panic-he-did-not/) [R. T. Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-t-kendall/) > [I'm a Brit and I just put myself on tape, back in London, for a very distant American project that I thought I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/i-m-a-brit-and-i-just-put-myself-on-tape-back-in-london-for-a-very/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [“«¡MALDITO IDRIL!» (Elijah)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valeria-gonz-lez-lozano/maldito-idril-elijah/) [Valeria González Lozano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valeria-gonz-lez-lozano/) > [ \[Elijah Wood\] is a really fully-rounded, amazing human being, and I feel incredibly lucky, especially given how closely we have to work together. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/elijah-wood-is-a-really-fully-rounded-amazing-human-being-and-i-feel/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said when the children of Israel rebelled against Moses and Aaron and did not want to leave their slavemaster to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/the-honorable-elijah-muhammad-said-when-the-children-of-israel/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) [Browse all 164 Elijah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elijah/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I feel like a man who has been asleep somewhat and under someone else's control. 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