"LET YOUR GREATNESS BLOOM." ~Nelson Mandela
"A bright future beckons. The onus is on us, through hard work, honesty and integrity, to reach for the stars." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at the Freedom Day Celebrations, Pretoria, South Africa, 27 April 1996, LivingTheLegacy
"A critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy. The press must be free from state interference. It must have the economic strength to stand up to the blandishments of government officials. It must have sufficient independence from vested interests to be bold and inquiring without fear or favour. It must enjoy the protection of the Constitution, so that it can protect our rights as citizens." ~Nelson Mandela at the International Press Institute Congress, Cape Town, South Africa, 14 February 1994, WPFD, FreePress, Living The Legacy
"A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination." ~Nelson Mandela
"A movement without a vision would be a movement without moral foundation." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during his Investiture as Doctor of Laws, Soochow University, Taiwan, 1 August 1993, LivingTheLegacy
"A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones" ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994
"A society that does not value its older people denies its roots and endangers its future." ~Nelson Mandela from a message announcing 1999 as the United Nations International Year of Older Persons, 17 December 1998, Internstiona Day of Older Persons, LTL
"A winner is a dreamer who never gives up." ~Nelson Mandela
"All conflicts, no matter how intractable, are capable of peaceful resolution." ~Nelson Mandela speaking a farewell banquet hosted by President Thabo Mbeki, Pretoria, South Africa, 16 June 1999 Living The Legacy
"All of us know how stubbornly racism can cling to the mind and how deeply it can infect the human soul" ~Nelson Mandela, LivingTheLegacy
"All of us tend to associate archives and museums with a remembering of the past. But that is only part of their work. If justice is their most important shaping influence, then they are also about making the future." ~Nelson Mandela at the launch of ‘466/64: A Prisoner Working in the Garden Exhibition’, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, South Africa, 16 March 2005, Living The Legacy
"All over the world water is regarded as precious as life itself" ~Nelson Mandela at the commissioning of the Moretele Water Project, Sekampaneng, South Africa, 14 October 1995 Living The Legacy, World Water Day
"All views are entitled to be aired. It is through vigorous and constructive debate that together we will chart the path ahead." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at the Opening of the 48th National Conference of the ANC, University of Durban-Westville, Durban, South Africa, 2 July 1991, LivingTheLegacy
"Although I am a gregarious person, I love solitude even more. I welcome the opportunity to be by myself, to plan, to think, to plot. But one can have too much solitude. I was terribly lonesome for my wife and my family." ~Nelson Mandela revisiting Robben Island, Cape Town, South Africa, 11 February 1994
"Always make religion a personal and private affair confined to yourself" ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Makaziwe Mandela, written on Robben Island, 21 December 1978
"An educated, enlightened and informed population is one of the surest ways of promoting the health of a democracy." ~Nelson Mandela at St John’s College, Johannesburg, South Africa, 6 October 2003, Living The Legacy
"As future leaders of this country, your challenge is to foster a nation in which all people, irrespective of race, colour, sex, religion or creed, can assert social cohesion fully. Mindful of your own challenges, you must continue to promote the principle of relentless freedom and democracy as it is the foundation upon which issues of human rights are ingrained." ~Nelson Mandela in a Video message for the National Youth Festival, South Africa, June 2008, Living The Legacy
"As future leaders there are certain responsibilities which we expect you to observe. One of these is utmost discipline. If you are not disciplined, you can never win our confidence." ~Nelson Mandela in an Address to the Youth, South Africa, 13 April 1990, LTL
"As I am former prisoner number 46664, there is a special place in my heart for all those that are denied access to their basic human rights. We urge countries to make the policy changes that are necessary to protect the human rights of those who suffer from unfair discrimination." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the Closing Ceremony of the XV International AIDS Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, 16 July 2004, LivingTheLegacy
"As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison." ~Nelson Mandela
"As in all wars, they – the children – are the innocent victims that bear the brunt of the suffering." ~Nelson Mandela at the launch of SOS Children's Village Fundraising for AIDS project, September 2001, LTL
"As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest" ~Nelson Mandela during the launch of the 'Make Poverty History' Campaign, Trafalgar Square, London, England, 3 February 2005, Living The Legacy
"As ‘no man is an island’, so too are we not men of stone who are not moved by the noble passions of love, friendship and human compassion." ~Nelson Mandela during an Address at the Cathedral of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden, 13 March 1990
"Abject poverty is demeaning, is an assault on the dignity of those that suffer it. In the end it demeans us all. It makes the freedom of all of us less meaningful." ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving the Freedom Award from the National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 22 November 2000, LTL
"Be ever vigilant, hold governments accountable, struggle for peace and justice." ~Nelson Mandela in a statement on Building a Global Partnership for Children, 6 May 2000, Living The Legacy
"Blaming things on the past does not make them better." ~Nelson Mandela at Rolihlahla Primary School, Warrenton, South Africa, 30 August 1996, Living The Legacy
"Both of us have been part of this unfolding tragedy, watching, waiting, troubled, not knowing what beast born of this superhuman suffering, slouches towards Bethlehem to be born, to borrow the words of an Irish poet. But this we must know, that none of us can insulate ourselves from so catastrophic a scale of human suffering." ~Nelson Mandela during an address to the Joint Houses of Parliament, Westminster Hall, London, England, 11 July 1996, Living The Legacy, Rwanda 20 years
"Boxing is egalitarian. In the ring, rank, age, colour and wealth are irrelevant. When you are circling your opponent, probing his strengths and weaknesses, you are not thinking about his colour or social status." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994 LTL
"But history never stops to play tricks even with seasoned and world famous freedom fighters. Frequently erstwhile revolutionaries have easily succumbed to greed, and the tendency to divert public resources for personal enrichment ultimately overwhelmed them. By amassing vast personal wealth, and by betraying the noble objectives which made them famous, they virtually deserted the masses of the people and joined the former oppressors, who enriched themselves by mercilessly robbing the poorest of the poor" ~Nelson Mandela from the unpublished sequel to his autobiography, circa 1998
"Children of today are the leaders of tomorrow and education is a very important weapon to prepare children for their future roles as leaders of the community." ~Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
"Civic associations in this country play an important role in voicing the aspirations of the people and shaping their thoughts." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to the Paarl Civic Association, written in Victor Verster Prison, Paarl, South Africa, 21 August 1989
"Death is a frightful disaster no matter what the cause and the age of the person affected." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Irene Buthelezi, on receiving the news of his son Thembi's death, written on Robben Island, 3 August 1969
"Death is something inevitable. When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort and that is, therefore, why I will sleep for the eternity." ~ Nelson Mandela from the documentary 'Mandela', 1996 LTL
"Democracy and human rights are inseparable" ~Nelson Mandela speaking at his Investiture as Doctor of Laws, Soochow University, Taiwan, 1 August 1993 LTL
"Difficulties break some men but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Winnie Mandela, written on Robben Island, 1 February 1975
"Distortions have misled many innocent people because they are weaved around concrete facts and events which those who still have a conscience would never deny." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Winnie Mandela, written on Robben Island, 9 December 1979, LivingTheLegacy
"Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again." ~Nelson Mandela
"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." ~Nelson Mandela during his 'Speech from the Dock', Rivonia Trial, Palace of Justice, Pretoria, South Africa, 20 April 1964
"Education has become a very powerful weapon in the struggle to produce a well-developed person." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Makhi Joomo Dalasile, written in Victor Verster Prison, Paarl, South Africa, 14 August 1989, World Teachers' Day, LTL
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." ~Nelson Mandela
"Everywhere in the world it is accepted that students, as a thinking and independent-minded section of the population, have the right to freedom of thought and expression of opinion." ~Nelson Mandela in a statement issued at the All-In-African National Action Council, 5 September 1961, LivingTheLegacy
"Fools multiply when wise men are silent." ~Nelson Mandela
"For it is not merely good logic but the reality of life that, in the end, society’s freedom from hunger, ignorance and disease is more often than not the dividing line between war and peace." ~Nelson Mandela upon accepting the Africa Peace Award, Durban, South Affrica, 18 March 1995
"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." ~Nelson Mandela
“Freedom cannot be achieved unless the women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression.” ~Nelson Mandela during his First State of the Nation Address, Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 24 May 1994 International Women's Day
"Freedom is meaningless if people cannot put food in their stomachs, if they can have no shelter, if illiteracy and disease continue to dog them." ~Nelson Mandela from an interview, circa 1994, LTL
"Freedom is not only the absence of being in jail, just as it is always said that peace is not merely the absence of war." ~Nelson Mandela from an interview with Lorie Karnath for Nobel Laureates, April 2004 LTL
"Freedom should not be understood to mean leadership positions or even appointments to top positions. It must be understood as the transformation of the lives of ordinary people in the hostels and the ghettos, in the squatter camps, on the farms and in the mine compounds." ~Nelson Mandela during an Address to the Leaders of the Free State Province, South Africa, 17 September 1994, LivingTheLegacy
"Good use of photography can give even poverty with all its rags, filth and vermin a measure of divineness rarely noticeable in real life." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Zindzi Mandela, written on Robben Island, 27 January 1980 Living The Legacy
"Good wise leaders respect the law and basic values of their society." ~Nelson Mandela during the Annual Children’s Celebrations, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 27 September 2003 Living The Legacy
"He had caused me to violate my self-control and I considered that a defeat at the hands of my opponent." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, talking about a prison warder, 1994, LivingTheLegacy
"History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children" ~Nelson Mandela at a luncheon hosted by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan at the Special Session of the United Nations for Children, United Nations , New York city, USA, 9 May 2002 Living The Legacy
"Honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, pure generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve others – qualities which are within easy reach of every soul – are the foundation of one’s spiritual life." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Winnie Mandela, written on Robben Island, South Africa, 1 February 1975, LTL
"Hope is a powerful weapon, and [one] no one power on earth can deprive you of." ~Nelson Mandela
"Human beings like to be associated with a hard-working, disciplined and successful person and, by carefully cultivating these qualities, you will win yourself many friends" ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Makgatho Mandela, written on Robben Island, 28 July 1969, LivingTheLegacy
"I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death."
~Nelson Mandela
"I am influenced more than ever before by the conviction that social equality is the only basis of human happiness." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Senator Douglas Lukhele, written on Robben Island, 1 August 1970, LTL
"I came to accept that I have no right whatsoever to judge others in terms of my own customs, however much I may be proud of such customs; that to despise others because they have not observed particular customs is a dangerous form of chauvinism." ~Nelson Mandela from an unpublished autobiographical manuscript, written on Robben Island, 1975, LivingTheLegacy
"I don’t interfere in the affairs of others, unless I’m asked. Even when I’m asked, my own concern is always to bring people together" ~Nelson Mandela from a conversation with Richard Stengel, 3 May 1993, LivingTheLegacy
"I have discovered that in discussions it never helps to take a morally superior tone to one’s opponent." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994, LTL
"I have never regarded any man as my superior, either in my life outside or inside prison." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to General du Preez, Commissioner of Prisons, written on Robben Island, 12 July 1976, LivingTheLegacy
"I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994, Living The Legacy
"I felt fear myself more times than I can remember, but I hid it behind the mask of boldness. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." ~Nelson Mandela
"I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994, LivingTheLegacy
"I hoped and vowed then that, among the treasures that life might offer me, would be the opportunity to serve my people and make my own humble contribution to their freedom struggles." ~Nelson Mandela in mitigation of sentence after being convicted of inciting workers to strike and leaving the country illegally, Old Synagogue, Pretoria, South Africa, 7 November 1962
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it" ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to freedom, 1994 LTL
"I learned that to humiliate another person is to make him suffer an unnecessarily cruel fate." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994, LTL
"I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles." ~Nelson Mandela from an unpublished autobiographical manuscript, written on Robben Island, 1975 LTL
"I want at once to make it clear that I am no racialist, and I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or from a white man." ~Nelson Mandela from his Application for the recusal of the Magistrate Mr WA Van Helsdingen, Old Synagogue, Pretoria, South Africa, 22 October 1962, The Living Legacy
"I was not born with a hunger to be free. I was born free – free in every way that I could know" ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994, Living The Legacy
"If freedom was the crown which the fighters of liberation sought to place on the head of mother Africa, let the upliftment, the happiness, prosperity and comfort of her children be the jewel of the crown." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at the OAU (Organisation of African Unity) Summit, Tunis, Tunisia, 13 June 1994, Living The Legacy
"If I had my time over I would do the same again. So would any man who dares call himself a man" ~Nelson Mandela during a Statement to the Court after being convicted of inciting workers and leaving the country illegally, Old Synagogue, Pretoria, South Africa, 7 November 1962
"If there is one lesson we can learn from the struggle against racism, in our country as well as yours, it is that racism must be consciously combatted, and not discreetly tolerated." ~Nelson Mandela speaking his Investiture, Clark University, Atlanta, USA, 10 July 1993
“If you are negotiating you must do so in a spirit of reconciliation, not from the point of view of issuing ultimatums.” ~Nelson Mandela addressing the media after meeting with President F W de Klerk about violence on the East Rand, Union Buildings, Pretoria, South Africa, circa early 1990s LTL
"If you don’t intend having a compromise, you don’t negotiate at all." ~Nelson Mandela at home, Soweto, South Africa, 14 February 1990, Living The Legacy
"If you have an objective in life, then you want to concentrate on that and not engage in infighting with your enemies. You want to create an atmosphere where you can move everybody towards the goal you have set for yourself – as well as the collective for which you work." ~Nelson Mandela from an interview with John Battersby, Johannesburg, published in the Christian Science Monitor on 10 February 2000, Living The Legacy
"In a world riven by violence and strife, Gandhi’s message of peace and non-violence holds the key to human survival in the twenty-first century." ~Nelson Mandela in a video message to the Satyagraha Centenary Conference, New Delhi, India, 29-30 January 2007, LTL
"In all my years in public life my favourite ladies and gentlemen were exactly members of the media. You were always the ones with the most courage to remind and reprimand me when I was acting less than a gentleman." ~Nelson Mandela during a press conference for 46664 Campaign, Robben Island, Cape Town, South Africa, 28 November 2003, WPFD FreePress, TLL
"In human affairs, no single person, organisation or social formation ever has a final or an absolutely correct position." ~Nelson Mandela during a message to the 8th National Congress of COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions), Midrand, South Africa, 15-18 September 2003
"In the end we must remember that no amount of rules or their enforcement will defeat those who struggle with justice on their side." ~Nelson Mandela at the fiftieth (50th) anniversary of the G.A.T.T. (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), Geneva, Switzerland, 19 May 1998, The Living Legacy
“It always seems impossible until it is done.” ~Nelson Mandela
"It is a grave error for any leader to be oversensitive in the face of criticism, to conduct discussions as if he or she is a schoolmaster talking to less informed and inexperienced learners." ~Nelson Mandela from the unpublished sequel to his autobiography, circa 1998, The Living Legacy
"It is a precious virtue to try to make others happy and to forget their worries." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Zindzi Mandela, written on Robben Island, 1 March 1981, LTL
"It is always a special pleasure to talk to children about my favourite pastime: reading." ~Nelson Mandela at the Launch of Madiba, The Rainbow Man, 27 November 1997, The Living Legacy
"It is an achievement for a man to do his duty on earth irrespective of the consequences." ~Nelson Mandela from an interview with Scott MacLeod of Time Magazine, Soweto, South Africa, 26 February 1990 LTL
"It is best to rely on the freely given support of the people; otherwise that support is weak and fleeting." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994 Living The Legacy
"It is never my custom to use words lightly. If twenty-seven years in prison have done anything to us, it was to use the silence of solitude to make us understand how precious words are and how real speech is in its impact on the way people live and die." ~Nelson Mandela from the Closing Address at the XIII International AIDS Conference, Durban, South Africa, 14 July 2000, LivingTheLegacy
"It is so easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the 6th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, Walter Sisulu Square, Kliptown, Soweto, South Africa, 12 July 2008
"It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it" ~Nelson Mandela at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa, 30 June 2009, Time to Serve, Mandela Day
"It is indeed reassuring that the world has crawled or is crawling out of the superstitions of previous centuries. Otherwise many gurus would accept purely fortuitous occurrences for causal connections." ~Nelson Mandela
"It is not at all correct to elevate any human being to the position of a god" ~Nelson Mandela at home, Soweto, South Africa, February 1990, LTL
"It is not beyond our power to create a world in which all children have access to a good education." ~Nelson Mandela in a recorded message for the launch of the Nelson Mandela Institute for Education and Rural Development, November 2007, The Living Legacy
"It is now for all of us to redouble our efforts and our commitment to collectively ensure broad-based gender sensitivity and real-life practices of gender equality." ~Nelson Mandela during a dinner celebrating Women’s Month, Johannesburg Country Club, Johannesburg, South Africa, 25 August 2003, The Living Legacy
"It is so easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the 6th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, Walter Sisulu Square, Kliptown, Soweto, South Africa, 12 July 2008 Living The Legacy
"It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor" ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994
"It is up to the youth to decisively and finally break our society out of the constricting and divisive definitions of our past." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at the re-burial ceremony for Anton Lembede, Mbumbulu, South Africa, 27 October 2002, LivingTheLegacy
"It is vital that our youth lead the efforts to create the conditions in which our people can sleep peacefully at night and our children can go to school without fear." ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Kwazulu-Natal, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, 30 May 1998, LTL
"It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect that animated my life, that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal, that turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home, that forced a life-loving man to live like a monk." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994, LivingTheLegacy
"Leaders will have to give clear and decisive leadership towards a world of tolerance and respect for difference, and an uncompromising commitment to peaceful solutions of conflicts and disputes." ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving the German Media Prize, Baden-Baden, Germany, 28 January 1999 Living The Legacy
"Let us give practical recognition to the injustices of the past, by building a future based on equality and social justice." ~Nelson Mandela at the signing of the new Constitution, Sharpeville, Vereeniging, South Africa, 10 December 1996, The Living Legacy
"Let us not dwell too parochially on that past. Let it inspire us to make the intellectual and cultural contributions to the thinking and understanding of our common humanity that can make of the world a better place for all." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during a Banquet celebrating Africa's 100 best books of the 20th Century, Cape Town, South Africa, July 2002, LivingTheLegacy
"Let us stand together to make of our world a sustainable source for our future as humanity on this planet." ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving the Planet and Humanity Award, International Geographical Union, Durban, South Africa, August 2002, LivingTheLegacy
"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the launch of the 'Make Poverty History' Campaign, Trafalgar Square, London, England, 3 February 2005, Living The Legacy
"Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening." ~Nelson Mandela
"Love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." ~Nelson Mandela
"May your choices reflect your hopes not your fears." ~Nelson Mandela
"My comrades in prison were men of honesty and principle." ~Nelson Mandela from the unpublished sequel to his autobiography, circa 1998, The Living Legacy
"My mother, she was my first friend in the proper sense of the word. She was not an emotional person, she was completely controlled, calm, at peace with herself and with the world." ~Nelson Mandela from the documentary 'Mandela', 1996, Mother's Day
"My respect for human beings is based not on the colour of a man’s skin nor authority he may wield, but purely on merit" ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to General du Preez, Commissioner of Prisons, written on Robben Island, 12 July 1976, Living The Legacy
"Negotiation and discussion are the greatest weapons we have for promoting peace and development." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at the Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 7 December 1998, LivingTheLegacy
"Never forget that a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Winnie Mandela, written on Robben Island, 1 February 1975 Living The Legacy
"No child in Africa, and in fact anywhere in the world, should be denied education." ~Nelson Mandela at the launch of 'Dream for Africa' International Fund-Raising Campaign, Cape Town, South Africa, 6 December 2004, LTL
"No longer shall we seek to place blame for our condition elsewhere or to look to others to take responsibility for our development. We are the masters of our own fate." ~Nelson Mandela during a Banquet celebrating Africa’s 100 best books of the Twentieth Century , Cape Town, South Africa, July 2002, The Living Legacy
"No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994, LTL
"No single person, no body of opinion, no political doctrine, no religious doctrine can claim a monopoly on truth" ~Nelson Mandela during an address to the International Federation of Newspaper Publishers, Prague, Czech Republic, 26 May 1992 Living The Legacy
"None of us is a superstar and none can succeed without the success of the other" ~Nelson Mandela speaking at the OAU (Organisation for African Unity) Summit, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 8 June 1998, LivingTheLegacy
"Not even the most repressive regime can stop human beings from finding ways of communicating and obtaining access to information." ~Nelson Mandela, Source Unknown, 1995
"Nothing can be as valuable as being part and parcel of the history of a country." ~ Nelson Mandela from a letter to Winnie Mandela, written on Robben Island, 10 June 1969, LivingTheLegacy
"Now, I have suffered from illnesses which have a stigma. When I was in prison I contracted TB and there are many people who do not want to have anything to do with somebody who has tuberculosis. And as you know now, last year, I was found to be a cancer patient. Now, I didn't hide this, I immediately called the press and I told them I have this illness." ~Nelson Mandela at the opening of the Zola Clinic, Soweto, South Africa, 7 March 2002, The Living Legacy
"Often, the most discouraging moments are precisely the time to launch an initiative. At such times, people are searching for a way out of their dilemma." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994 Living The Legacy
"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." ~Nelson Mandela during his 'Speech from the Dock', Rivonia Trial, Palace of Justice, Pretoria, South Africa, 20 April 1964
"Education has become a very powerful weapon in the struggle to produce a well-developed person." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Makhi Joomo Dalasile, written in Victor Verster Prison, Paarl, South Africa, 14 August 1989, World Teachers' Day, LTL
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." ~Nelson Mandela
"Everywhere in the world it is accepted that students, as a thinking and independent-minded section of the population, have the right to freedom of thought and expression of opinion." ~Nelson Mandela in a statement issued at the All-In-African National Action Council, 5 September 1961, LivingTheLegacy
"Fools multiply when wise men are silent." ~Nelson Mandela
"For it is not merely good logic but the reality of life that, in the end, society’s freedom from hunger, ignorance and disease is more often than not the dividing line between war and peace." ~Nelson Mandela upon accepting the Africa Peace Award, Durban, South Affrica, 18 March 1995
"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." ~Nelson Mandela
“Freedom cannot be achieved unless the women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression.” ~Nelson Mandela during his First State of the Nation Address, Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 24 May 1994 International Women's Day
"Freedom is meaningless if people cannot put food in their stomachs, if they can have no shelter, if illiteracy and disease continue to dog them." ~Nelson Mandela from an interview, circa 1994, LTL
"Freedom is not only the absence of being in jail, just as it is always said that peace is not merely the absence of war." ~Nelson Mandela from an interview with Lorie Karnath for Nobel Laureates, April 2004 LTL
"Freedom should not be understood to mean leadership positions or even appointments to top positions. It must be understood as the transformation of the lives of ordinary people in the hostels and the ghettos, in the squatter camps, on the farms and in the mine compounds." ~Nelson Mandela during an Address to the Leaders of the Free State Province, South Africa, 17 September 1994, LivingTheLegacy
"Good use of photography can give even poverty with all its rags, filth and vermin a measure of divineness rarely noticeable in real life." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Zindzi Mandela, written on Robben Island, 27 January 1980 Living The Legacy
"Good wise leaders respect the law and basic values of their society." ~Nelson Mandela during the Annual Children’s Celebrations, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 27 September 2003 Living The Legacy
"He had caused me to violate my self-control and I considered that a defeat at the hands of my opponent." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, talking about a prison warder, 1994, LivingTheLegacy
"History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children" ~Nelson Mandela at a luncheon hosted by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan at the Special Session of the United Nations for Children, United Nations , New York city, USA, 9 May 2002 Living The Legacy
"Honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, pure generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve others – qualities which are within easy reach of every soul – are the foundation of one’s spiritual life." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Winnie Mandela, written on Robben Island, South Africa, 1 February 1975, LTL
"Hope is a powerful weapon, and [one] no one power on earth can deprive you of." ~Nelson Mandela
"Human beings like to be associated with a hard-working, disciplined and successful person and, by carefully cultivating these qualities, you will win yourself many friends" ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Makgatho Mandela, written on Robben Island, 28 July 1969, LivingTheLegacy
"I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death."
~Nelson Mandela
"I am influenced more than ever before by the conviction that social equality is the only basis of human happiness." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Senator Douglas Lukhele, written on Robben Island, 1 August 1970, LTL
"I came to accept that I have no right whatsoever to judge others in terms of my own customs, however much I may be proud of such customs; that to despise others because they have not observed particular customs is a dangerous form of chauvinism." ~Nelson Mandela from an unpublished autobiographical manuscript, written on Robben Island, 1975, LivingTheLegacy
"I don’t interfere in the affairs of others, unless I’m asked. Even when I’m asked, my own concern is always to bring people together" ~Nelson Mandela from a conversation with Richard Stengel, 3 May 1993, LivingTheLegacy
"I have discovered that in discussions it never helps to take a morally superior tone to one’s opponent." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994, LTL
"I have never regarded any man as my superior, either in my life outside or inside prison." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to General du Preez, Commissioner of Prisons, written on Robben Island, 12 July 1976, LivingTheLegacy
"I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994, Living The Legacy
"I felt fear myself more times than I can remember, but I hid it behind the mask of boldness. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." ~Nelson Mandela
"I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994, LivingTheLegacy
"I hoped and vowed then that, among the treasures that life might offer me, would be the opportunity to serve my people and make my own humble contribution to their freedom struggles." ~Nelson Mandela in mitigation of sentence after being convicted of inciting workers to strike and leaving the country illegally, Old Synagogue, Pretoria, South Africa, 7 November 1962
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it" ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to freedom, 1994 LTL
"I learned that to humiliate another person is to make him suffer an unnecessarily cruel fate." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994, LTL
"I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles." ~Nelson Mandela from an unpublished autobiographical manuscript, written on Robben Island, 1975 LTL
"I want at once to make it clear that I am no racialist, and I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or from a white man." ~Nelson Mandela from his Application for the recusal of the Magistrate Mr WA Van Helsdingen, Old Synagogue, Pretoria, South Africa, 22 October 1962, The Living Legacy
"I was not born with a hunger to be free. I was born free – free in every way that I could know" ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994, Living The Legacy
"If freedom was the crown which the fighters of liberation sought to place on the head of mother Africa, let the upliftment, the happiness, prosperity and comfort of her children be the jewel of the crown." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at the OAU (Organisation of African Unity) Summit, Tunis, Tunisia, 13 June 1994, Living The Legacy
"If I had my time over I would do the same again. So would any man who dares call himself a man" ~Nelson Mandela during a Statement to the Court after being convicted of inciting workers and leaving the country illegally, Old Synagogue, Pretoria, South Africa, 7 November 1962
"If there is one lesson we can learn from the struggle against racism, in our country as well as yours, it is that racism must be consciously combatted, and not discreetly tolerated." ~Nelson Mandela speaking his Investiture, Clark University, Atlanta, USA, 10 July 1993
“If you are negotiating you must do so in a spirit of reconciliation, not from the point of view of issuing ultimatums.” ~Nelson Mandela addressing the media after meeting with President F W de Klerk about violence on the East Rand, Union Buildings, Pretoria, South Africa, circa early 1990s LTL
"If you don’t intend having a compromise, you don’t negotiate at all." ~Nelson Mandela at home, Soweto, South Africa, 14 February 1990, Living The Legacy
"If you have an objective in life, then you want to concentrate on that and not engage in infighting with your enemies. You want to create an atmosphere where you can move everybody towards the goal you have set for yourself – as well as the collective for which you work." ~Nelson Mandela from an interview with John Battersby, Johannesburg, published in the Christian Science Monitor on 10 February 2000, Living The Legacy
Amazing beach in Patikul Municipality, Sulu. Why don't we tap ASG to turn them into partner for peace and development of the area? Just thinking out of the box.
"If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner." ~Nelson Mandela
"In a world riven by violence and strife, Gandhi’s message of peace and non-violence holds the key to human survival in the twenty-first century." ~Nelson Mandela in a video message to the Satyagraha Centenary Conference, New Delhi, India, 29-30 January 2007, LTL
"In all my years in public life my favourite ladies and gentlemen were exactly members of the media. You were always the ones with the most courage to remind and reprimand me when I was acting less than a gentleman." ~Nelson Mandela during a press conference for 46664 Campaign, Robben Island, Cape Town, South Africa, 28 November 2003, WPFD FreePress, TLL
"In human affairs, no single person, organisation or social formation ever has a final or an absolutely correct position." ~Nelson Mandela during a message to the 8th National Congress of COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions), Midrand, South Africa, 15-18 September 2003
"In the end we must remember that no amount of rules or their enforcement will defeat those who struggle with justice on their side." ~Nelson Mandela at the fiftieth (50th) anniversary of the G.A.T.T. (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), Geneva, Switzerland, 19 May 1998, The Living Legacy
“It always seems impossible until it is done.” ~Nelson Mandela
"It is a grave error for any leader to be oversensitive in the face of criticism, to conduct discussions as if he or she is a schoolmaster talking to less informed and inexperienced learners." ~Nelson Mandela from the unpublished sequel to his autobiography, circa 1998, The Living Legacy
"It is a precious virtue to try to make others happy and to forget their worries." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Zindzi Mandela, written on Robben Island, 1 March 1981, LTL
"It is always a special pleasure to talk to children about my favourite pastime: reading." ~Nelson Mandela at the Launch of Madiba, The Rainbow Man, 27 November 1997, The Living Legacy
"It is an achievement for a man to do his duty on earth irrespective of the consequences." ~Nelson Mandela from an interview with Scott MacLeod of Time Magazine, Soweto, South Africa, 26 February 1990 LTL
"It is best to rely on the freely given support of the people; otherwise that support is weak and fleeting." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994 Living The Legacy
"It is never my custom to use words lightly. If twenty-seven years in prison have done anything to us, it was to use the silence of solitude to make us understand how precious words are and how real speech is in its impact on the way people live and die." ~Nelson Mandela from the Closing Address at the XIII International AIDS Conference, Durban, South Africa, 14 July 2000, LivingTheLegacy
"It is so easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the 6th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, Walter Sisulu Square, Kliptown, Soweto, South Africa, 12 July 2008
"It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it" ~Nelson Mandela at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa, 30 June 2009, Time to Serve, Mandela Day
"It is indeed reassuring that the world has crawled or is crawling out of the superstitions of previous centuries. Otherwise many gurus would accept purely fortuitous occurrences for causal connections." ~Nelson Mandela
"It is not at all correct to elevate any human being to the position of a god" ~Nelson Mandela at home, Soweto, South Africa, February 1990, LTL
"It is not beyond our power to create a world in which all children have access to a good education." ~Nelson Mandela in a recorded message for the launch of the Nelson Mandela Institute for Education and Rural Development, November 2007, The Living Legacy
"It is now for all of us to redouble our efforts and our commitment to collectively ensure broad-based gender sensitivity and real-life practices of gender equality." ~Nelson Mandela during a dinner celebrating Women’s Month, Johannesburg Country Club, Johannesburg, South Africa, 25 August 2003, The Living Legacy
"It is so easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the 6th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, Walter Sisulu Square, Kliptown, Soweto, South Africa, 12 July 2008 Living The Legacy
"It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor" ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994
"It is up to the youth to decisively and finally break our society out of the constricting and divisive definitions of our past." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at the re-burial ceremony for Anton Lembede, Mbumbulu, South Africa, 27 October 2002, LivingTheLegacy
"It is vital that our youth lead the efforts to create the conditions in which our people can sleep peacefully at night and our children can go to school without fear." ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Kwazulu-Natal, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, 30 May 1998, LTL
"It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect that animated my life, that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal, that turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home, that forced a life-loving man to live like a monk." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994, LivingTheLegacy
"Leaders will have to give clear and decisive leadership towards a world of tolerance and respect for difference, and an uncompromising commitment to peaceful solutions of conflicts and disputes." ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving the German Media Prize, Baden-Baden, Germany, 28 January 1999 Living The Legacy
"Let us give practical recognition to the injustices of the past, by building a future based on equality and social justice." ~Nelson Mandela at the signing of the new Constitution, Sharpeville, Vereeniging, South Africa, 10 December 1996, The Living Legacy
"Let us not dwell too parochially on that past. Let it inspire us to make the intellectual and cultural contributions to the thinking and understanding of our common humanity that can make of the world a better place for all." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during a Banquet celebrating Africa's 100 best books of the 20th Century, Cape Town, South Africa, July 2002, LivingTheLegacy
"Let us stand together to make of our world a sustainable source for our future as humanity on this planet." ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving the Planet and Humanity Award, International Geographical Union, Durban, South Africa, August 2002, LivingTheLegacy
"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the launch of the 'Make Poverty History' Campaign, Trafalgar Square, London, England, 3 February 2005, Living The Legacy
"Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening." ~Nelson Mandela
"Love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." ~Nelson Mandela
"May your choices reflect your hopes not your fears." ~Nelson Mandela
"My comrades in prison were men of honesty and principle." ~Nelson Mandela from the unpublished sequel to his autobiography, circa 1998, The Living Legacy
"My mother, she was my first friend in the proper sense of the word. She was not an emotional person, she was completely controlled, calm, at peace with herself and with the world." ~Nelson Mandela from the documentary 'Mandela', 1996, Mother's Day
"My respect for human beings is based not on the colour of a man’s skin nor authority he may wield, but purely on merit" ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to General du Preez, Commissioner of Prisons, written on Robben Island, 12 July 1976, Living The Legacy
"Negotiation and discussion are the greatest weapons we have for promoting peace and development." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at the Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 7 December 1998, LivingTheLegacy
"Never forget that a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Winnie Mandela, written on Robben Island, 1 February 1975 Living The Legacy
"No child in Africa, and in fact anywhere in the world, should be denied education." ~Nelson Mandela at the launch of 'Dream for Africa' International Fund-Raising Campaign, Cape Town, South Africa, 6 December 2004, LTL
"No longer shall we seek to place blame for our condition elsewhere or to look to others to take responsibility for our development. We are the masters of our own fate." ~Nelson Mandela during a Banquet celebrating Africa’s 100 best books of the Twentieth Century , Cape Town, South Africa, July 2002, The Living Legacy
"No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994, LTL
"No single person, no body of opinion, no political doctrine, no religious doctrine can claim a monopoly on truth" ~Nelson Mandela during an address to the International Federation of Newspaper Publishers, Prague, Czech Republic, 26 May 1992 Living The Legacy
"None of us is a superstar and none can succeed without the success of the other" ~Nelson Mandela speaking at the OAU (Organisation for African Unity) Summit, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 8 June 1998, LivingTheLegacy
"Not even the most repressive regime can stop human beings from finding ways of communicating and obtaining access to information." ~Nelson Mandela, Source Unknown, 1995
"Nothing can be as valuable as being part and parcel of the history of a country." ~ Nelson Mandela from a letter to Winnie Mandela, written on Robben Island, 10 June 1969, LivingTheLegacy
"Now, I have suffered from illnesses which have a stigma. When I was in prison I contracted TB and there are many people who do not want to have anything to do with somebody who has tuberculosis. And as you know now, last year, I was found to be a cancer patient. Now, I didn't hide this, I immediately called the press and I told them I have this illness." ~Nelson Mandela at the opening of the Zola Clinic, Soweto, South Africa, 7 March 2002, The Living Legacy
"Often, the most discouraging moments are precisely the time to launch an initiative. At such times, people are searching for a way out of their dilemma." ~Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994 Living The Legacy
"On which aspect one concentrates in judging others will depend on the character of the particular judge. As we judge others so we are judged by others." ~Nelson Mandela
"One of the most difficult things is not to change society – but to change yourself." ~Nelson Mandela from an interview with John Battersby, Johannesburg, South Africa, published in the Christian Science Monitor on 10 February 2000 LTL
"One of the most important lessons I learnt in my life of struggle for freedom and peace is that in any conflict there comes a point when neither side can claim to be right and the other wrong, no matter how much that might have been the case at the start of a conflict." ~Nelson Mandela during a video message for the Signing of the Geneva Accord, December 2003
"Once a person is determined to help themselves, there is nothing that can stop them." ~Nelson Mandela
"Only leaders of a special calibre and integrity are able to see the basic problems that affect us all, and who tend to avoid the sterile polemics that limit the vision of many activists." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to James Mndaweni , written in Victor Verster Prison, Paarl, South Africa, 21 August 1989, LTL
"Our children are our greatest treasure. They are our future. Those who abuse them tear at the fabric of our society and weaken our nation." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at a National Men's March, Pretoria, South Africa, 22 November 1997 LTL
"Our children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation. They will be the leaders of our country, the creators of our national wealth, those who care for and protect our people." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the Dedication of the Qunu and Nkalane Schools, Qunu, South Africa, 3 June 1995, LivingTheLegacy
"Our continent is unfortunately still too much plagued by wars, violent conflicts and instability." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at a SADTU (South African Democratic Teachers Union) Congress, Johannesburg, South Africa, 19 July 2001 Living The Legacy
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are of great spirit. You playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of the spirit that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. Now as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do as well. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others!" ~Nelson Mandela
"Our love for children is undiminished. Their innocence and energy, their happiness and welfare must be protected and treasured. It is their laughter that I yearned for while in prison." ~Nelson Mandela in a recorded message for a gala dinner in Monaco ‘United for a Better World’, 1 December 2004, The Living Legacy
“Our people have the right to hope, the right to a future, the right to life itself. No power on this earth can destroy the thirst for human dignity. Our land cries out for peace. We will only achieve it through adherence to democratic principles and respect for the rights of all.” ~Nelson Mandela during a speech at King William’s Town, Bhisho, South Africa, 8 September 1992, The Living Legacy
"Our society needs to re-establish a culture of caring." ~Nelson Mandela during a Father's Day lunch hosted by Zindzi Mandela, Hyatt Women of Vision Club, Johannesburg, South Africa,
"Where poverty exists, there is not true freedom" ~ Nelson Mandela from the launch of the 'Make Poverty History' Campaign, Trafalgar Square, London, England, 3 February 2005, LTL
"You don’t have to have education in order to know that you want certain fundamental rights" ~Nelson Mandela from an interview with Brian Widlake for ITN Television (UK), Johannesburg, South Africa, 31 May 1961 LTL
"You have to carefully choose the opportunity and make sure that history would be on your side." ~Nelson Mandela from a conversation with Richard Stengel, 5 April 1993
"Young people throughout the world, especially students, are determined to build a new world of happiness and hope in their lifetime." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to the Paarl Students Association , written in Victor Verster Prison, Paarl, South Africa, 21 August 1989, The Living Legacy
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"One of the most difficult things is not to change society – but to change yourself." ~Nelson Mandela from an interview with John Battersby, Johannesburg, South Africa, published in the Christian Science Monitor on 10 February 2000 LTL
"One of the most important lessons I learnt in my life of struggle for freedom and peace is that in any conflict there comes a point when neither side can claim to be right and the other wrong, no matter how much that might have been the case at the start of a conflict." ~Nelson Mandela during a video message for the Signing of the Geneva Accord, December 2003
"Once a person is determined to help themselves, there is nothing that can stop them." ~Nelson Mandela
"Only leaders of a special calibre and integrity are able to see the basic problems that affect us all, and who tend to avoid the sterile polemics that limit the vision of many activists." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to James Mndaweni , written in Victor Verster Prison, Paarl, South Africa, 21 August 1989, LTL
"Our children are our greatest treasure. They are our future. Those who abuse them tear at the fabric of our society and weaken our nation." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at a National Men's March, Pretoria, South Africa, 22 November 1997 LTL
"Our children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation. They will be the leaders of our country, the creators of our national wealth, those who care for and protect our people." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the Dedication of the Qunu and Nkalane Schools, Qunu, South Africa, 3 June 1995, LivingTheLegacy
"Our continent is unfortunately still too much plagued by wars, violent conflicts and instability." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at a SADTU (South African Democratic Teachers Union) Congress, Johannesburg, South Africa, 19 July 2001 Living The Legacy
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are of great spirit. You playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of the spirit that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. Now as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do as well. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others!" ~Nelson Mandela
"Our love for children is undiminished. Their innocence and energy, their happiness and welfare must be protected and treasured. It is their laughter that I yearned for while in prison." ~Nelson Mandela in a recorded message for a gala dinner in Monaco ‘United for a Better World’, 1 December 2004, The Living Legacy
“Our people have the right to hope, the right to a future, the right to life itself. No power on this earth can destroy the thirst for human dignity. Our land cries out for peace. We will only achieve it through adherence to democratic principles and respect for the rights of all.” ~Nelson Mandela during a speech at King William’s Town, Bhisho, South Africa, 8 September 1992, The Living Legacy
"Our society needs to re-establish a culture of caring." ~Nelson Mandela during a Father's Day lunch hosted by Zindzi Mandela, Hyatt Women of Vision Club, Johannesburg, South Africa,
"Our world is not divided by race, colour, gender, or religion. Our world is divided into wise people and fools. And fools divide themselves by race, colour, gender, or religion." ~Nelson Mandela
"Part of building a new nation means building a spirit of tolerance, love and respect amongst the people of this country." ~Nelson Mandela
“Peace is not just the absence of conflict; peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, gender, class, caste or any other social markers of difference” ~Nelson Mandela from a message to the Global Convention on Peace and Non-violence, New Delhi, India, 31 January 2004, International Day of Peace
"People are human beings, produced by the society in which they live. You encourage people by seeing the good in them." ~Nelson Mandela from an interview, date unknown, LTL
"Poverty and material inequality are enemies of lasting peace and stability." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the Closing Session of the 50th National Conference of the ANC, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa, 20 December 1997
"Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people." ~Nelson Mandela at the Chief Albert Luthuli Centenary Celebrations , Kwa Dukuza, South Africa, 25 April 1998, LTL
"Reconciliation cannot be attained without reconstruction and development, and vice versa." ~Nelson Mandela from an article in the Sunday Times (South Africa), 22 February 1996, Living The Legacy
"Reconciliation means working together to correct the legacy of past injustice." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during National reconciliation Day, South Africa, 16 December 1995 LivingTheLegacy
"Science and experience have also shown that no race is inherently superior to others, and this myth has been equally exploded whenever blacks and whites are given equal opportunity for development." ~Nelson Mandela from an essay entitled 'Whither the Black Consciousness Movement', written on Robben Island, 1978 LTL
“Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that generation.” ~Nelson Mandela
"Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination." ~Nelson Mandela
"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand." ~Nelson Mandela presenting the Inaugural Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award , Sporting Club, Monaco, Monte Carlo, 25 May 2000, The Living Legacy
"Sport has the power to overcome old divisions and create the bond of common aspirations." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during a Banquet for the African Cup of Nations, South Africa, 1 March 1996, LTL
"Stand together to make of our world a sustainable source for our future as humanity on this planet" ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving the Planet and Humanity Award , International Geographical Union, Durban, South Africa, 4 August 2002, The Living Legacy
"Success in the implementation of reconstruction and development is the sure guarantee for lasting peace and stability." ~Nelson Mandela at an address at a luncheon at the Conference of Editors, South Africa, 6 September 1994 Living The Legacy
"That the will of the people is the basis of the authority of government is a principle universally acknowledged as sacred throughout the civilised world, and constitutes the basic foundations of freedom and justice. It is understandable why citizens, who have the vote as well as the right to direct representation in the country’s governing bodies, should be morally and legally bound by the laws governing the country." ~Nelson Mandela in mitigation of sentence after being convicted of inciting workers to strike and leaving the country illegally , Old Synagogue, Pretoria, South Africa, November 1962, The Living Legacy
“The anchor of all my dreams is the collective wisdom of mankind as a whole.” ~Nelson Mandela
"The basic human rights for all our citizens have to be protected and guaranteed, to ensure the genuine liberty of every individual." ~Nelson Mandela during a Business Leadership Meeting, World Trade Center, New York City, USA, 21 June 1990, Humans Right Day
"The beauty of the human spirit is not that we avoid falling down; we get back up when we fall." ~Nelson Mandela
"The best weapon is to sit down and talk." ~Nelson Mandela from the documentary, Mandela: The Living Legend, 2003, LivingTheLegacy
"The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." ~Nelson Mandela
"The cause of women’s emancipation is part of our national struggle against outdated practices and prejudices. It is a struggle that demands equal effort from both men and women alike." ~Nelson Mandela in an Address to the National Conference of Commitments: Gender and Women Empowerment, Kempton Park, South Africa, 23 February 1996, Living The Legacy
"The challenge for each one of you is to take up these ideals of tolerance and respect for others and put them to practical use in your schools, your communities and throughout your lives." ~Nelson Mandela during a recorded message for the Round Square Campaign, South Africa, 4 October 1996, Living The Legacy
"The death of a human being, whatever may be his station in life, is always a sad and painful affair" ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, written on Robben Island, 4 November 1968 LTL
"The divide between the rich and the poor, the privileged and the deprived, the powerful and the marginalised has become marked primarily by a differentiation in access to knowledge and information. Those who have access to cutting-edge knowledge hold the advantage in all arenas of social, political and economic life today." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the 26th International Conference on Improving University Teaching, Johannesburg University, Johannesburg, South Africa, July 2001
"The families who live in shacks with no running water, sanitation and electricity are a reminder that the past continues to haunt the present." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the 75th anniversary of the SACP, Cape Town, South Africa, 28 July 1996, LivingTheLegacy
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." ~Nelson Mandela
"The habit of attending to small things and of appreciating small courtesies is one of the important marks of a good person." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Zenani Mandela, written on Robben Island, South Africa, 25 March 1979, LivingTheLegacy
"The important thing to remember is that no single person can do everything." ~ Nelson Mandela during a Father's Day lunch hosted by Zindzi Mandela, Hyatt Women of Vision Club, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1 June 2001 Living The Legacy
"The mark of great leaders is the ability to understand the context in which they are operating and act accordingly" ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving the Chris Hani Award, at the 10th National Congress of the SACP, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1 July 1998
"The path of those who preach love, and not hatred, is not easy. They often have to wear a crown of thorns." ~Nelson Mandela from a message to the Global Convention on Peace and Non-violence, New Delhi, India, 31 January 2004, LTL, International Day of Non-Violence
"The power of imagination created the illusion that my vision went much farther than the naked eye could actually see.” ~Nelson Mandela
"The purpose of studying history is not to deride human action, nor to weep over it or to hate it, but to understand it. And hopefully then to learn from it as we contemplate our future." ~Nelson Mandela from a Lecture at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, England, 11 July 1997, LivingTheLegacy
"The reality can no longer be ignored that we live in an interdependent world which is bound together to a common destiny" ~Nelson Mandela during his address to the 49th United Nations General Assembly, New York City, USA, 3 October 1994 LYL
"The suffering inflicted, and more often than not on the most vulnerable sectors of society, demeans all of us as humanity. That it is invariably women, children, the aged and disabled who suffer in these conflicts stands to the added shame of humankind." ~Nelson Mandela
"The support of tested and dependable friends gives one the strength to hold on to hope and to endure successfully even the most challenging knocks in life." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Don Mattera, written in Pollsmoor Prison, Cape Town, South Africa, 4 April 1
"The time for healing of the wounds has come. The moment to bridge the chasm that divides us has come. The time to build is upon us." ~Nelson Mandela during his Inauguration as President of South Africa, Union Buildings, Pretoria, South Africa, 10 May 1994 Living The Legacy
"The time has come to accept in our hearts and minds that with freedom comes responsibility." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the closing address in the Debate on the State of the Nation Address, Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 24 February 1995
"The time of conflict in our land is over. We must embrace one another on the basis of justice and nurture the extended family to which we all belong." ~Nelson Mandela during Beyers Naude’s eightieth Birthday , Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 May 1995, The Living Legacy
"The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children." ~Nelson Mandela during the launch of the Blue Train, Worcester Station, Worcester, South Africa, 27 September 1997
"The true story of our struggle shows that the fight against racial oppression is not the monopoly of the black man." ~Nelson Mandela from an essay entitled "Whither the Black Consciousness Movement', written on Robben Island, 1978, LivingTheLegacy
"The very fact there is today an independent Irish state, however long it took to realise the noble goals of the Irish people by bringing it into being, confirms the fact that we too shall become a free people; we too shall have a country which will, as the great Irish patriots said in The Proclamation of 1916, ‘Cherish all the children of the nation equally’." ~Nelson Mandela in a statement to the Parliament of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, 2 July 1990 #SaintPatricksDay
"The world has made defeating AIDS a top priority. This is a blessing. But TB remains ignored. Today we are calling on the world to recognise that we can’t fight AIDS unless we do much more to fight TB as well." ~Nelson Mandela during his closing address to the XV International AIDS Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, 16 July 2004, The Living Legacy
"The world is full of people with natural leadership qualities. The traditional leaders, who led the independence struggle from the seventeenth century, were such men. But times have changed and education has become a very powerful weapon in the struggle to produce a well-developed person." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Makhi Jomo Dalasile, written in Victor Verster Prison, Paarl, South Africa, 14 August 1989, LTL
"The world remains beset by so much human suffering, poverty and deprivation. It is in your hands to make of our world a better one for all, especially the poor, vulnerable and marginalised." ~Nelson Mandela during his Ninetieth (90th) birthday dinner, Hyde Park, London, England, 25 June 2008, The Living Legacy
"There are few misfortunes in this world that you cannot turn into a personal triumph if you have the iron will and the necessary skill." ~ Nelson Mandela from a letter to Zindzi Mandela, written on Robben Island, 25 March 1979, Living The Legacy
"There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during a ceremony to acknowledge FCW Harlow Butler (Pty) Ltd for supporting the Nelson Mandela Foundation's HIV / AIDS and Education Programmes, Nelson Mandela Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa, 27 February 2004
"There is little to be said in favour of poverty, but it was often an incubator of true friendship. Many people will appear to befriend you when you are wealthy, but precious few will do the same when you are poor. If wealth is a magnet, poverty is a kind of repellent. Yet poverty often brings out the true generosity in others." ~Nelson Mandela ~Source Anon, The Living Legacy
"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." ~Nelson Mandela
"There’s nothing as bad as a leader making a demand which you know can never succeed." ~Nelson Mandela from a conversation with Richard Stengel, circa December 1992, Living The Legacy
"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered." ~Nelson Mandela
"There is one regret I have had throughout my life: that I never became the boxing heavyweight champion of the world." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during an event with President Bill Clinton, Washington DC, USA, 1990, LivingTheLegacy
"Those who conduct themselves with morality, integrity and consistency need not fear the forces of inhumanity and cruelty." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the British Red Cross Humanity Lecture, Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, England, 10 July 2003, LivingTheLegacy
"Those who enjoyed the fruits of unjust privilege must be helped to find a new spirit of sharing." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at the Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, Mthatha, South Africa, 18 September 1994, LTL
"Those who sought their own freedom in the domination of others were doomed in time to ignominious failure" ~Nelson Mandela during an Address to the Joint Houses of Parliament, Westminster Hall, London, England, 11 July 1996
"Time is short – for if we do not act now, in concert, the brushfire crises that are proliferating around the world may yet become an uncontrollable conflagration." ~ Nelson Mandela in a statement on building a Global Partnership for Children, 6 May 2000, LivingTheLegacy
"To a freedom fighter hope is what a lifebelt is to a swimmer – a guarantee that one will keep afloat and free from danger." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Winnie Mandela, written on Robben Island, 1 August 1970, LTL
"To be an effective agent for peace, you have to seek not only to change the community and the world. What is more difficult is to change yourself before you seek to change others." ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving the Inaugural Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award, Sporting Club, Monaco, Monte Carlo, 25 May 2000, LivingTheLegacy
"To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity. To impose on them a wretched life of hunger and deprivation is to dehumanise them." ~Nelson Mandela during an Address to the Joint Session of the House of Congress, Washington DC, USA, 26 June 1990, LivingTheLegacy
"To the youth of today, I also have a wish to make: be the scriptwriters of your destiny and feature yourselves as stars that showed the way towards a brighter future." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during a birthday celebration for the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, French International School, Johannesburg, South Africa, 9 July 2008, LTL
"Together as a nation, we have the obligation to put sunshine into the hearts of our little ones. They are our precious possessions. They deserve what happiness life can offer." ~Nelson Mandela at a lunch for the sponsors of his Birthday Party for Children with life-threatening diseases, South Africa, 4 July 1997, Living The Legacy
"Together we can continue to replace the darkness of apartheid with the light of freedom, peace and development." ~Nelson Mandela
"Too many women continue to bear the brunt of social and economic deprivation, in the rural as well as urban areas. Domestic violence, rape, abuse of women remain disgraceful blots on the reputation of a country that is called a miracle nation in other respects." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at a Dinner celebrating Women's Month, Johannesburg Country Club, Johannesburg, South Africa, 25 August 2003, LivingTheLegacy
"We accord persons dignity by assuming that they are good, that they share the human qualities we ascribe to ourselves." ~Nelson Mandela during the Joint siting of Parliament to mark Ten Years of Democracy, Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 10 May 2004, Living The Legacy
"We are committed to building bridges and helping to embrace all of humanity under one umbrella and move forward in strength and confidence to a better future." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during a Diwali celebration, Durban, South Africa, 3 November 1991, LivingTheLegacy
"We are in this modern globalised world each the keeper of our brother and sister. We have too often failed that moral calling." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the British Red Cross Humanity Lecture, Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, England, 10 July 2003 LivingTheLegacy
"We can build a society grounded on friendship and our common humanity – a society founded on tolerance." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the announcement of the Election date, Multi-party Negotiations Process, Kempton Park, South Africa, 17 November 1993, Living The Legacy
"We can neither heal nor build, if we continue to have people in positions of influence and power who, at best, pay lip service to affirmative action, black empowerment and the emancipation of women, or who are, in reality, opposed to these goals; if we bhave people who continue with blind arrogance to practise racism in the workplaces and schools, despite the appeal we made in our very first address to this Parliament. We must work together to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth, opportunity and power in our society." ~Nelson Mandela during the State of the Nation Address, Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 9 February 1996, The Living Legacy
"We do not want freedom without bread, nor do we want bread without freedom. We must provide for all the fundamental rights and freedoms associated with a democratic society." ~Nelson Mandela during his Investiture as Doctor of Laws, Soochow University, Taiwan, 1 August 1993, Living The Legacy
"We have had men who were so arrogant that they wanted to conquer the world and turn human beings into their slaves" ~Nelson Mandela during an address to the Parliament of the World's Religions, Cape Town, South Africa, December 1999 LTL
"We have the obligation to put sunshine into the hearts of our little ones. They are our precious possessions. They deserve what happiness life can offer." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during a lunch for the sponsors of his birthday party for children with life-threatening diseases, South Africa, 4 July 1997, LivingTheLegacy
"We know all to well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians." ~Nelson Mandela
"We literally had to walk through a garden of thorns, and we are still wading across rivers of blood." ~Nelson Mandela during the Installation of Mandela as Chancellor of the University of the North, University of the North, Turfloop, South Africa, 25 April 1992, The Living Legacy
"We must be honest and open about the power relationships between men and women in our society, and we must help build a more enabling and supportive environment that puts the role of women centre stage in this struggle. Each one of us – sister and brother, mother and father, teacher and student, priest and parishioner, manager and worker, presidents and prime ministers – must add our voice to this call for action." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the 46664 Concert, Fancourt, George, South Africa, 19 March 2005
"We must continue, with still greater speed, to change the lives of our people, especially the poorest of the poor, by eradicating what remains of apartheid and its legacy." ~Nelson Mandela in an address to the Joint Session of the Parliament of Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan, 4 May 1999, LivingTheLegacy
"We must embrace one another on the basis of justice and nurture the extended family to which we all belong." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during Beyers Naude's 80th birthday, Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 May 1995 , LTL
"We must ensure that globalisation benefits not only the powerful but also the men, women and children whose lives are ravaged by poverty." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at the University of Beijing, Beijing, China, 6 May 1999, LivingTheLegacy
"We must, however, not allow differences of opinion to ever paralyse our efforts towards attaining a world free of racial bigotry, hatred, discrimination and intolerance." ~Nelson Mandela from a statement read at the Official Opening Ceremony of the Durban Review Conference, Geneva, Switzerland, 20 April 2009, LTL
"We must use time wisely and forever realise that the time is always ripe to do right." ~Nelson Mandela
"We need to know with a fresh conviction that we all share a common humanity and that our diversity in the world is the strength for our future together." ~ Nelson Mandela during a Banquet celebrating Africa’s 100 best books of the Twentieth Century, Cape Town, South Africa, July 2002 World Humanitarian Day
"We need to place the eradication of poverty at the top of world priorities. We need to know with a fresh conviction that we all share a common humanity and that our diversity in the world is the strength for our future together." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at a Banquet celebrating Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century, Cape Town, South Africa, July 2002, LivingTheLegacy
"We pass through this world but once and opportunities you miss will never be available to you again." ~Nelson Mandela from a notebook, Living The Legacy
"We should never forget those on whose shoulders we stand and those who paid the supreme price for freedom." ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving the Freedom of Howick, Howick Sports Grounds, Howick, South Africa, 12 December 1996, LivingTheLegacy
"We slaughter one another in our words and attitudes. We slaughter one another in the stereotypes and mistrust that linger in our heads, and the words of hate we spew from our lips." ~Nelson Mandela during the State of the Nation Address, Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 5 February 1999, Living The Legacy
"We were mindful from the very start of the importance of accountability to democracy. Our experience had made us acutely aware of the possible dangers of a government that is neither transparent nor accountable. To this end our Constitution contains several mechanisms to ensure that government will not be part of the problem, but part of the solution." ~ Nelson Mandela speaking during the African Regional Workshop of the International Ombudsman Institute, Pretoria, South Africa, 26 August 1996, LivingTheLegacy
"What counts most in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead." ~Nelson Mandela during the 90th birthday celebration of Walter Sisulu, Walter Sisulu Hall, Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, 18 May 2002, Living The Legacy
"When people are determined, they can overcome anything." ~Nelson Mandela from a conversation with Morgan Freeman
"Part of building a new nation means building a spirit of tolerance, love and respect amongst the people of this country." ~Nelson Mandela
“Peace is not just the absence of conflict; peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, gender, class, caste or any other social markers of difference” ~Nelson Mandela from a message to the Global Convention on Peace and Non-violence, New Delhi, India, 31 January 2004, International Day of Peace
"People are human beings, produced by the society in which they live. You encourage people by seeing the good in them." ~Nelson Mandela from an interview, date unknown, LTL
"Poverty and material inequality are enemies of lasting peace and stability." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the Closing Session of the 50th National Conference of the ANC, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa, 20 December 1997
"Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people." ~Nelson Mandela at the Chief Albert Luthuli Centenary Celebrations , Kwa Dukuza, South Africa, 25 April 1998, LTL
"Reconciliation cannot be attained without reconstruction and development, and vice versa." ~Nelson Mandela from an article in the Sunday Times (South Africa), 22 February 1996, Living The Legacy
"Reconciliation means working together to correct the legacy of past injustice." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during National reconciliation Day, South Africa, 16 December 1995 LivingTheLegacy
"Science and experience have also shown that no race is inherently superior to others, and this myth has been equally exploded whenever blacks and whites are given equal opportunity for development." ~Nelson Mandela from an essay entitled 'Whither the Black Consciousness Movement', written on Robben Island, 1978 LTL
“Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that generation.” ~Nelson Mandela
"Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination." ~Nelson Mandela
"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand." ~Nelson Mandela presenting the Inaugural Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award , Sporting Club, Monaco, Monte Carlo, 25 May 2000, The Living Legacy
"Sport has the power to overcome old divisions and create the bond of common aspirations." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during a Banquet for the African Cup of Nations, South Africa, 1 March 1996, LTL
"Stand together to make of our world a sustainable source for our future as humanity on this planet" ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving the Planet and Humanity Award , International Geographical Union, Durban, South Africa, 4 August 2002, The Living Legacy
"Success in the implementation of reconstruction and development is the sure guarantee for lasting peace and stability." ~Nelson Mandela at an address at a luncheon at the Conference of Editors, South Africa, 6 September 1994 Living The Legacy
"That the will of the people is the basis of the authority of government is a principle universally acknowledged as sacred throughout the civilised world, and constitutes the basic foundations of freedom and justice. It is understandable why citizens, who have the vote as well as the right to direct representation in the country’s governing bodies, should be morally and legally bound by the laws governing the country." ~Nelson Mandela in mitigation of sentence after being convicted of inciting workers to strike and leaving the country illegally , Old Synagogue, Pretoria, South Africa, November 1962, The Living Legacy
“The anchor of all my dreams is the collective wisdom of mankind as a whole.” ~Nelson Mandela
"The basic human rights for all our citizens have to be protected and guaranteed, to ensure the genuine liberty of every individual." ~Nelson Mandela during a Business Leadership Meeting, World Trade Center, New York City, USA, 21 June 1990, Humans Right Day
"The beauty of the human spirit is not that we avoid falling down; we get back up when we fall." ~Nelson Mandela
"The best weapon is to sit down and talk." ~Nelson Mandela from the documentary, Mandela: The Living Legend, 2003, LivingTheLegacy
"The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." ~Nelson Mandela
"The cause of women’s emancipation is part of our national struggle against outdated practices and prejudices. It is a struggle that demands equal effort from both men and women alike." ~Nelson Mandela in an Address to the National Conference of Commitments: Gender and Women Empowerment, Kempton Park, South Africa, 23 February 1996, Living The Legacy
"The challenge for each one of you is to take up these ideals of tolerance and respect for others and put them to practical use in your schools, your communities and throughout your lives." ~Nelson Mandela during a recorded message for the Round Square Campaign, South Africa, 4 October 1996, Living The Legacy
"The death of a human being, whatever may be his station in life, is always a sad and painful affair" ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, written on Robben Island, 4 November 1968 LTL
"The divide between the rich and the poor, the privileged and the deprived, the powerful and the marginalised has become marked primarily by a differentiation in access to knowledge and information. Those who have access to cutting-edge knowledge hold the advantage in all arenas of social, political and economic life today." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the 26th International Conference on Improving University Teaching, Johannesburg University, Johannesburg, South Africa, July 2001
"The families who live in shacks with no running water, sanitation and electricity are a reminder that the past continues to haunt the present." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the 75th anniversary of the SACP, Cape Town, South Africa, 28 July 1996, LivingTheLegacy
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." ~Nelson Mandela
"The habit of attending to small things and of appreciating small courtesies is one of the important marks of a good person." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Zenani Mandela, written on Robben Island, South Africa, 25 March 1979, LivingTheLegacy
"The important thing to remember is that no single person can do everything." ~ Nelson Mandela during a Father's Day lunch hosted by Zindzi Mandela, Hyatt Women of Vision Club, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1 June 2001 Living The Legacy
"The mark of great leaders is the ability to understand the context in which they are operating and act accordingly" ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving the Chris Hani Award, at the 10th National Congress of the SACP, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1 July 1998
"The path of those who preach love, and not hatred, is not easy. They often have to wear a crown of thorns." ~Nelson Mandela from a message to the Global Convention on Peace and Non-violence, New Delhi, India, 31 January 2004, LTL, International Day of Non-Violence
"The power of imagination created the illusion that my vision went much farther than the naked eye could actually see.” ~Nelson Mandela
"The purpose of studying history is not to deride human action, nor to weep over it or to hate it, but to understand it. And hopefully then to learn from it as we contemplate our future." ~Nelson Mandela from a Lecture at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, England, 11 July 1997, LivingTheLegacy
"The reality can no longer be ignored that we live in an interdependent world which is bound together to a common destiny" ~Nelson Mandela during his address to the 49th United Nations General Assembly, New York City, USA, 3 October 1994 LYL
"The suffering inflicted, and more often than not on the most vulnerable sectors of society, demeans all of us as humanity. That it is invariably women, children, the aged and disabled who suffer in these conflicts stands to the added shame of humankind." ~Nelson Mandela
"The support of tested and dependable friends gives one the strength to hold on to hope and to endure successfully even the most challenging knocks in life." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Don Mattera, written in Pollsmoor Prison, Cape Town, South Africa, 4 April 1
"The time for healing of the wounds has come. The moment to bridge the chasm that divides us has come. The time to build is upon us." ~Nelson Mandela during his Inauguration as President of South Africa, Union Buildings, Pretoria, South Africa, 10 May 1994 Living The Legacy
"The time has come to accept in our hearts and minds that with freedom comes responsibility." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the closing address in the Debate on the State of the Nation Address, Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 24 February 1995
"The time of conflict in our land is over. We must embrace one another on the basis of justice and nurture the extended family to which we all belong." ~Nelson Mandela during Beyers Naude’s eightieth Birthday , Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 May 1995, The Living Legacy
"The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children." ~Nelson Mandela during the launch of the Blue Train, Worcester Station, Worcester, South Africa, 27 September 1997
"The true story of our struggle shows that the fight against racial oppression is not the monopoly of the black man." ~Nelson Mandela from an essay entitled "Whither the Black Consciousness Movement', written on Robben Island, 1978, LivingTheLegacy
"The very fact there is today an independent Irish state, however long it took to realise the noble goals of the Irish people by bringing it into being, confirms the fact that we too shall become a free people; we too shall have a country which will, as the great Irish patriots said in The Proclamation of 1916, ‘Cherish all the children of the nation equally’." ~Nelson Mandela in a statement to the Parliament of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, 2 July 1990 #SaintPatricksDay
"The world has made defeating AIDS a top priority. This is a blessing. But TB remains ignored. Today we are calling on the world to recognise that we can’t fight AIDS unless we do much more to fight TB as well." ~Nelson Mandela during his closing address to the XV International AIDS Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, 16 July 2004, The Living Legacy
"The world is full of people with natural leadership qualities. The traditional leaders, who led the independence struggle from the seventeenth century, were such men. But times have changed and education has become a very powerful weapon in the struggle to produce a well-developed person." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Makhi Jomo Dalasile, written in Victor Verster Prison, Paarl, South Africa, 14 August 1989, LTL
"The world remains beset by so much human suffering, poverty and deprivation. It is in your hands to make of our world a better one for all, especially the poor, vulnerable and marginalised." ~Nelson Mandela during his Ninetieth (90th) birthday dinner, Hyde Park, London, England, 25 June 2008, The Living Legacy
"There are few misfortunes in this world that you cannot turn into a personal triumph if you have the iron will and the necessary skill." ~ Nelson Mandela from a letter to Zindzi Mandela, written on Robben Island, 25 March 1979, Living The Legacy
"There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during a ceremony to acknowledge FCW Harlow Butler (Pty) Ltd for supporting the Nelson Mandela Foundation's HIV / AIDS and Education Programmes, Nelson Mandela Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa, 27 February 2004
"There is little to be said in favour of poverty, but it was often an incubator of true friendship. Many people will appear to befriend you when you are wealthy, but precious few will do the same when you are poor. If wealth is a magnet, poverty is a kind of repellent. Yet poverty often brings out the true generosity in others." ~Nelson Mandela ~Source Anon, The Living Legacy
"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." ~Nelson Mandela
"There’s nothing as bad as a leader making a demand which you know can never succeed." ~Nelson Mandela from a conversation with Richard Stengel, circa December 1992, Living The Legacy
"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered." ~Nelson Mandela
"There is one regret I have had throughout my life: that I never became the boxing heavyweight champion of the world." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during an event with President Bill Clinton, Washington DC, USA, 1990, LivingTheLegacy
"Those who conduct themselves with morality, integrity and consistency need not fear the forces of inhumanity and cruelty." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the British Red Cross Humanity Lecture, Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, England, 10 July 2003, LivingTheLegacy
"Those who enjoyed the fruits of unjust privilege must be helped to find a new spirit of sharing." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at the Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, Mthatha, South Africa, 18 September 1994, LTL
"Those who sought their own freedom in the domination of others were doomed in time to ignominious failure" ~Nelson Mandela during an Address to the Joint Houses of Parliament, Westminster Hall, London, England, 11 July 1996
"Time is short – for if we do not act now, in concert, the brushfire crises that are proliferating around the world may yet become an uncontrollable conflagration." ~ Nelson Mandela in a statement on building a Global Partnership for Children, 6 May 2000, LivingTheLegacy
"To a freedom fighter hope is what a lifebelt is to a swimmer – a guarantee that one will keep afloat and free from danger." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to Winnie Mandela, written on Robben Island, 1 August 1970, LTL
"To be an effective agent for peace, you have to seek not only to change the community and the world. What is more difficult is to change yourself before you seek to change others." ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving the Inaugural Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award, Sporting Club, Monaco, Monte Carlo, 25 May 2000, LivingTheLegacy
"To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity. To impose on them a wretched life of hunger and deprivation is to dehumanise them." ~Nelson Mandela during an Address to the Joint Session of the House of Congress, Washington DC, USA, 26 June 1990, LivingTheLegacy
"To the youth of today, I also have a wish to make: be the scriptwriters of your destiny and feature yourselves as stars that showed the way towards a brighter future." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during a birthday celebration for the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, French International School, Johannesburg, South Africa, 9 July 2008, LTL
"Together as a nation, we have the obligation to put sunshine into the hearts of our little ones. They are our precious possessions. They deserve what happiness life can offer." ~Nelson Mandela at a lunch for the sponsors of his Birthday Party for Children with life-threatening diseases, South Africa, 4 July 1997, Living The Legacy
"Together we can continue to replace the darkness of apartheid with the light of freedom, peace and development." ~Nelson Mandela
"Too many women continue to bear the brunt of social and economic deprivation, in the rural as well as urban areas. Domestic violence, rape, abuse of women remain disgraceful blots on the reputation of a country that is called a miracle nation in other respects." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at a Dinner celebrating Women's Month, Johannesburg Country Club, Johannesburg, South Africa, 25 August 2003, LivingTheLegacy
"We accord persons dignity by assuming that they are good, that they share the human qualities we ascribe to ourselves." ~Nelson Mandela during the Joint siting of Parliament to mark Ten Years of Democracy, Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 10 May 2004, Living The Legacy
"We are committed to building bridges and helping to embrace all of humanity under one umbrella and move forward in strength and confidence to a better future." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during a Diwali celebration, Durban, South Africa, 3 November 1991, LivingTheLegacy
"We are in this modern globalised world each the keeper of our brother and sister. We have too often failed that moral calling." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the British Red Cross Humanity Lecture, Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, England, 10 July 2003 LivingTheLegacy
"We can build a society grounded on friendship and our common humanity – a society founded on tolerance." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the announcement of the Election date, Multi-party Negotiations Process, Kempton Park, South Africa, 17 November 1993, Living The Legacy
"We can neither heal nor build, if we continue to have people in positions of influence and power who, at best, pay lip service to affirmative action, black empowerment and the emancipation of women, or who are, in reality, opposed to these goals; if we bhave people who continue with blind arrogance to practise racism in the workplaces and schools, despite the appeal we made in our very first address to this Parliament. We must work together to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth, opportunity and power in our society." ~Nelson Mandela during the State of the Nation Address, Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 9 February 1996, The Living Legacy
"We do not want freedom without bread, nor do we want bread without freedom. We must provide for all the fundamental rights and freedoms associated with a democratic society." ~Nelson Mandela during his Investiture as Doctor of Laws, Soochow University, Taiwan, 1 August 1993, Living The Legacy
"We have had men who were so arrogant that they wanted to conquer the world and turn human beings into their slaves" ~Nelson Mandela during an address to the Parliament of the World's Religions, Cape Town, South Africa, December 1999 LTL
"We have the obligation to put sunshine into the hearts of our little ones. They are our precious possessions. They deserve what happiness life can offer." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during a lunch for the sponsors of his birthday party for children with life-threatening diseases, South Africa, 4 July 1997, LivingTheLegacy
"We know all to well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians." ~Nelson Mandela
"We literally had to walk through a garden of thorns, and we are still wading across rivers of blood." ~Nelson Mandela during the Installation of Mandela as Chancellor of the University of the North, University of the North, Turfloop, South Africa, 25 April 1992, The Living Legacy
"We must be honest and open about the power relationships between men and women in our society, and we must help build a more enabling and supportive environment that puts the role of women centre stage in this struggle. Each one of us – sister and brother, mother and father, teacher and student, priest and parishioner, manager and worker, presidents and prime ministers – must add our voice to this call for action." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during the 46664 Concert, Fancourt, George, South Africa, 19 March 2005
"We must continue, with still greater speed, to change the lives of our people, especially the poorest of the poor, by eradicating what remains of apartheid and its legacy." ~Nelson Mandela in an address to the Joint Session of the Parliament of Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan, 4 May 1999, LivingTheLegacy
"We must embrace one another on the basis of justice and nurture the extended family to which we all belong." ~Nelson Mandela speaking during Beyers Naude's 80th birthday, Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 May 1995 , LTL
"We must ensure that globalisation benefits not only the powerful but also the men, women and children whose lives are ravaged by poverty." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at the University of Beijing, Beijing, China, 6 May 1999, LivingTheLegacy
"We must, however, not allow differences of opinion to ever paralyse our efforts towards attaining a world free of racial bigotry, hatred, discrimination and intolerance." ~Nelson Mandela from a statement read at the Official Opening Ceremony of the Durban Review Conference, Geneva, Switzerland, 20 April 2009, LTL
"We must use time wisely and forever realise that the time is always ripe to do right." ~Nelson Mandela
"We need to know with a fresh conviction that we all share a common humanity and that our diversity in the world is the strength for our future together." ~ Nelson Mandela during a Banquet celebrating Africa’s 100 best books of the Twentieth Century, Cape Town, South Africa, July 2002 World Humanitarian Day
"We need to place the eradication of poverty at the top of world priorities. We need to know with a fresh conviction that we all share a common humanity and that our diversity in the world is the strength for our future together." ~Nelson Mandela speaking at a Banquet celebrating Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century, Cape Town, South Africa, July 2002, LivingTheLegacy
"We pass through this world but once and opportunities you miss will never be available to you again." ~Nelson Mandela from a notebook, Living The Legacy
"We should never forget those on whose shoulders we stand and those who paid the supreme price for freedom." ~Nelson Mandela upon receiving the Freedom of Howick, Howick Sports Grounds, Howick, South Africa, 12 December 1996, LivingTheLegacy
"We slaughter one another in our words and attitudes. We slaughter one another in the stereotypes and mistrust that linger in our heads, and the words of hate we spew from our lips." ~Nelson Mandela during the State of the Nation Address, Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 5 February 1999, Living The Legacy
"We were mindful from the very start of the importance of accountability to democracy. Our experience had made us acutely aware of the possible dangers of a government that is neither transparent nor accountable. To this end our Constitution contains several mechanisms to ensure that government will not be part of the problem, but part of the solution." ~ Nelson Mandela speaking during the African Regional Workshop of the International Ombudsman Institute, Pretoria, South Africa, 26 August 1996, LivingTheLegacy
"What counts most in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead." ~Nelson Mandela during the 90th birthday celebration of Walter Sisulu, Walter Sisulu Hall, Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, 18 May 2002, Living The Legacy
"When people are determined, they can overcome anything." ~Nelson Mandela from a conversation with Morgan Freeman
"When you are at the bottom, be CAREFUL of the monster called BITTERNESS. BITTERNESS will make you JEALOUS and think that other people are the reason you haven't made it." ~Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
"When you are at the top, be careful of the monster called pride. Pride will make you down on the people who haven't attained your level of success," ~Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
"Where poverty exists, there is not true freedom" ~ Nelson Mandela from the launch of the 'Make Poverty History' Campaign, Trafalgar Square, London, England, 3 February 2005, LTL
"You don’t have to have education in order to know that you want certain fundamental rights" ~Nelson Mandela from an interview with Brian Widlake for ITN Television (UK), Johannesburg, South Africa, 31 May 1961 LTL
"You have to carefully choose the opportunity and make sure that history would be on your side." ~Nelson Mandela from a conversation with Richard Stengel, 5 April 1993
"Young people throughout the world, especially students, are determined to build a new world of happiness and hope in their lifetime." ~Nelson Mandela from a letter to the Paarl Students Association , written in Victor Verster Prison, Paarl, South Africa, 21 August 1989, The Living Legacy
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