6th December, 2013
Nelson Mandela during his long life inspired countless individuals across the world. Here is a collection of quotes that personify his spirit:
First Court Statement, 1962
“I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days. Even although I now happen to be tried by one whose opinion I hold in high esteem, I detest most violently the set-up that surrounds me here. It makes me feel that I am a black man in a white man’s court. This should not be”
Apartheid
“We are not anti-white, we are against white supremacy … we have condemned racialism no matter by whom it is professed. – Nelson Mandela, defence statement during the Treason Trial, 1961.
Fight For Equality And Human Rights
“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 will live together in harmony with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for, and to see realised. But my Lord, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”- Defence statement during the Rivonia Trial, 1964
First Day Of His Release, Cape Town, 1990:
“I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands.”
Rally Speech, Durban, 25 February 1990
“In Natal, apartheid is a deadly cancer in our midst, setting house against house, and eating away at the precious ties that bound us together. This strife among ourselves wastes our energy and destroys our unity. My message to those of you involved in this battle of brother against brother is this: take your guns, your knives, and your pangas, and throw them into the sea! Close down the death factories. End this war now! –
Inaugural Address, Pretoria 9 May 1994.
“Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world”
Victory Speech, 1994
“I watched, along with all of you, as the tens of thousands of our people stood patiently in long queues for many hours. Some sleeping on the open ground overnight waiting to cast this momentous vote. ”
“This is one of the most important moments in the life of our country. I stand here before you filled with deep pride and joy: — pride in the ordinary, humble people of this country. You have shown such a calm, patient determination to reclaim this country as your own, – and joy that we can loudly proclaim from the rooftops — free at last! ”
Freedom Fighter
“I was called a terrorist yesterday, but when I came out of jail, many people embraced me, including my enemies, and that is what I normally tell other people who say those who are struggling for liberation in their country are terrorists. I tell them that I was also a terrorist yesterday, but, today, I am admired by the very people who said I was one.” – Larry King Live, 16 May 2000
South Africa
“You may succeed in delaying, but never in preventing the transition of South Africa to a democracy. – Long Walk to Freedom”
“The authorities liked to say that we received a balanced diet; it was indeed balanced — between the unpalatable and the inedible. -Long Walk to Freedom.”
“South Africans have no concept of time and this is also why we can’t solve poverty and social problems… It’s now 10 years since the fall of the Apartheid government and we cannot blame Apartheid for being tardy.”
Forgiveness
South Africans must recall the terrible past so that we can deal with it, forgiving where forgiveness is necessary but never forgetting. – Nelson Mandela, on leaving office as South African president, 15 June 1999
Stepping Down As South African First Black President
I must step down while there are one or two people who admire me. – Nelson Mandela, Daily Nation, Kenyan paper, 16 June 1999
Long Walk to Freedom
“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.”
Freedom
“I always knew that someday I would once again feel the grass under my feet and walk in the sunshine as a free man. – Long Walk to Freedom””When I walked out of prison, that was my mission, to liberate the oppressed and the oppressor both”
“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.” – Long Walk to Freedom.”
“There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires. “- Long Walk to Freedom
Heroic Sacrifices
“We dedicate this day to all the heroes and heroines in this country and the rest of the world who sacrificed in many ways and surrendered their lives so that we could be free.
“No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails.
Nobel PrizeAcceptance Speech,1993
“We live with the hope that as she battles to remake herself, South Africa, will be like a microcosm of the new world that is striving to be born.”
Leadership
“Lead from the back – and let others believe they are in front.”
“A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens but its lowest ones.”
Africanism
“We owe it to all the peoples of the sub-continent to ensure that they see in us, not merely good leaders waxing lyrical about development, but as the front commanders in the blast furnaces of labour, productive investments and visible change.” Southern African Development Community (SADC) 15th anniversary summit, Johannesburg 13 September 1995
“I am the product of Africa and her long-cherished view of rebirth that can now be realised so that all of her children may play in the sun.” – Nelson Mandela’s final speech as president to the South African parliament, Cape Town 26 March 1999
“I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.”
About Why He Continued To Be Active In Social And Political Issues, 2002
“I really wanted to retire and rest and spend more time with my children, my grandchildren and of course with my wife. But the problems are such that for anybody with a conscience who can use whatever influence he may have to try to bring about peace, it’s difficult to say no.”
War/Racism
“We speak here of the challenge of the dichotomies of war and peace, violence and non-violence, racism and human dignity, oppression and repression and liberty and human rights, poverty and freedom from want”. – Nelson Mandela – Nobel Lecture 1993
“We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians; without the resolution of conflicts in East Timor, the Sudan and other parts of the world.”
Iraq War speech, 2003
“What I am condemning is that one power, with a president [George W. Bush] who has no foresight, who cannot think properly, is now wanting to plunge the world into a holocaust.”
Hope
“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.”
Children
“Few things make the life of a parent more rewarding and sweet as successful children.”
“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.” – National Men‘s March, 1997
Life
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. – Long Walk to Freedom.”
Food For All
“Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.” – Nelson Mandela
Sense Of Humour
“You sharpen your ideas by reducing yourself to the level of the people you are with and a sense of humour and a complete relaxation, even when you’re discussing serious things, does help to mobilise friends around you. And I love that.” – From an interview with Tim Couzens, Verne Harris and Mac Maharaj for Mandela:
Fear
“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Long Walk to Freedom.
Education
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Love
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must 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.” – Long Walk to Freedom.
Reconcilliation
“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.” Long Walk to Freedom.Service To Your Nation