_Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
GREAT QUOTES FROM NELSON MANDELA
"I like friends who have independent minds because they
tend to make you see problems from all angles."
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.
The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that
fear."
My personal favorite: "It always seems impossible until it's done."
A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination."
"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."
"Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got
back up again."
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."
"Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies."
"Lead from the back — and let others believe they are in front."
Nothing in this world is impossible and Mandela makes sure to remind us of that.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
A lot of people find it easy to be pessimistic and think of the negatives that can arise out of a situation. But in this quote, Mandela shows us that thinking positive is the only way to go. The more positive you think, the more positive the outcome will probably be.
“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.”
Living isn’t just about doing for yourself, but what you do for others as well.
“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.”
An ode to the fact that racism is not passed on genetically, but passed on through teachings.
“No one is born hating another person because of the color 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.”
Life is a course with endless obstacles to hurdle.
“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”
We are too quick to give up and refuse to get up from our failures. If we don’t fight to get up, we are giving up on something bigger, — life.
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
Sometimes you can leave a place and find that the only thing that has changed after all the years is yourself.
“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”
Be brave!
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
From the poorest of countries to the richest of nations, education is the key to moving forward in any society.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The
brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.
It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you
celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is
danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you
talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.
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.
If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy.
Then he becomes your partner.
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.
It always seems impossible until its done.
After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to
climb.
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.
There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it
treats its children.
In my country we go to prison first and then become President.
We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do
right.
Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again
experience the oppression of one by another.
I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes
from a black man or a white man.
If the United States of America or Britain is having elections, they don't ask
for observers from Africa or from Asia. But when we have elections, they want
observers.
A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the
end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don't
have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed.
Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will.
There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the
ways in which you yourself have altered.
Does anybody really think that they didn't get what they had because they didn't
have the talent or the strength or the endurance or the commitment?
Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.
I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.
Let freedom reign. The sun never set on so glorious a human achievement.
If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that
lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.
Nelson Mandela quotes (showing 1-30 of 132)
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
“When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no
choice but to become an outlaw.”
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.
The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that
fear.”
“It always seems impossible until it's done.”
“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.”
“A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you
add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.”
“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.”
“No one is born hating another person because of the color 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.”
“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”
“Lead from the back — and let others believe they are in front.”
“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 only rest for
a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my
long walk is not ended.”
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every
time we fall.”
“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the
ways in which you yourself have altered.”
“I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.”
“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got
back up again.”
“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.”
“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.”
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If
you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
“As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never
have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself... Great peacemakers
are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.”
“ As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission
to do the same.”
“I am the captain of my soul.”
“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. 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. Sometimes it falls on a
generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness
blossom.”
“Where you stand depends on where you sit.”
“It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its
jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but
its lowest ones.”
“One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was that until I changed
myself, I could not change others.”
“A leader. . .is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most
nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along
they are being directed from behind.”
“Appearances matter — and remember to smile.”
“We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and
fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?”
“Courage is not the absence of fear — it s inspiring others to move beyond it.”
“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to
climb.”
"For the people of South Africa, for those he inspired
around the globe — Madiba's passing is rightly a time of mourning, and a time to
celebrate a heroic life," said U.S. President Barack Obama in his speech at the
memorial service, calling Mandela a "a giant of history ... In the arc of his
life, we see a man who earned his place in history through struggle and
shrewdness; through persistence and faith ... He accepted the consequences of
his actions, knowing that standing up to powerful interests and injustice
carries a price ... We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. But let
me say to the people of Africa, and young people around the world: You can make
his life's work your own."
___
Mandela family friend Andrew Mlangeni said in his opening remarks Mandela
"created hope where there was none." ''He touched my heart, my soul, my life and
those of the millions of South Africans," he added.
___
"To him, life was all about service to others," said family member Gen.
Thanduxolo Mandela. "He mingled with kings, queens and presidents ... At the
core, he was a man of the people."
___
"Let us pay tribute to Nelson Mandela: The ultimate symbol of dignity and
unwavering dedication to the revolutionary struggle, to freedom and justice , a
prophet of unity, peace and reconciliation," Cuban President Raul Castro said
through a translator. "As Mandela's life teaches us, only the concerted effort
of all nations will empower humanity to respond to the enormous challenges that
today threatens its very existence," he said, appealing for a global
Mandela-inspired spirit of unity.
___
"Mr. Mandela was more than one of the greatest pillars of our time," United
Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his speech at the service. "He was
one of our greatest teachers. He taught by example. He sacrificed so much ...
for freedom and equality, for democracy and justice."
___
"He also was a source of inspiration for similar struggles in Brazil and across
South America," Brazilian President President Dilma Rousseff said through a
translator. "His fight reached way beyond his nation's border and inspired young
men and women to fight for independence and social justice."
___
"Mr. Mandela was the pride of the African people," Chinese Vice President Li
Yuanchao said through a translator. "He has dedicated his entire life to the
development and progress of the African content."
___
"His life was just an extraordinary journey, from beginning to end, with such an
effect, both on his own country, and on the rest of the world," former British
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said before the service. "So, enjoy today, enjoy and
celebrate what he achieved. We may not see his like again."
___
"I think Madiba would like us to celebrate and not be sad, to have smiles on our
faces," said Muhammad Choonara, a 24-year-old university student, said during
the memorial. Madiba is Mandela's clan name that most South African use as an
endearment when speaking about the former president.
___
"Mandela was a very humble man and he gave himself to the world. He sacrificed
time with his family for us and for me. It is a privilege to be here, it is a
humbling experience," said Dipolelo Moshe, 35, who works for a marketing
company. She had a South African flag draped over her shoulders and was carrying
a big photo of Mandela as she stood in line at the stadium.
___
"I would not have the life I have today if it was not for him. I'm here to show
my gratitude to Madiba. He was jailed so we could have our freedom," said
Matlhogonolo Mothoagae, 24, a marketing student, as she lined up to enter the
stadium.
South
Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu:Was he a saint? Not if a saint is
entirely flawless. I believe he was saintly because he inspired others
powerfully and revealed in his character, transparently, many of God's
attributes of goodness: compassion, concern for others, and a desire for peace,
forgiveness and reconciliation.
US President Barack Obama:It took a man like Madiba to free not just the prisoner, but the jailer as well; to show that you must trust others so that they may trust you; to teach that reconciliation is not a matter of ignoring a cruel past, but a means of confronting it with inclusion, generosity and truth. He changed laws, but also hearts.
South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu:Was he a saint? Not if a saint is entirely flawless. I believe he was saintly because he inspired others powerfully and revealed in his character, transparently, many of God's attributes of goodness: compassion, concern for others, and a desire for peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.
Read
Archbishop Tutu's speech in full
South African President Jacob Zuma:[Mandela] was a fearless freedom fighter who refused to allow the brutality of the apartheid state to stand in the way of the struggle for the liberation of his people. Being a lawyer, he understood the possible consequences of his actions but he also knew that no unjust system could last forever.
• "Nothing he achieved was inevitable. In the arc of his life, we see a man who earned his place in history through struggle and shrewdness, persistence and faith. He tells us what's possible not just in the pages of dusty history books, but in our own lives as well." — President Obama
• "His life was just an extraordinary journey, from beginning to end, with such
an effect, both on his own country, and on the rest of the world. So, enjoy
today, enjoy and celebrate what he achieved. We may not see his like again." —
former British prime minister Gordon Brown
• "Mr. Mandela was the pride of the African people. He has dedicated his entire
life to the development and progress of the African continent." — Chinese Vice
President Li Yuanchao
• "To him, life was all about service to others. He mingled with kings, queens
and presidents. ... At the core, he was a man of the people." — family member
Gen. Thanduxolo Mandela
• "Mr. Mandela was more than one of the greatest pillars of our time. He was one
of our greatest teachers. He taught by example. He sacrificed so much ... for
freedom and equality, for democracy and justice." — United Nations
Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon
• "As Mandela's life teaches us, only the concerted effort of all nations will
empower humanity to respond to the enormous challenges that today threatens its
very existence." — Cuban President Raúl Castro
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Xhosa pronunciation: 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was South Africa's first black chief executive, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. Politically an African nationalist and democratic socialist, he served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997. Internationally, Mandela was Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999.
A Xhosa born to the Thembu royal family, Mandela attended the Fort Hare
University and the University of Witwatersrand, where he studied law. Living in
Johannesburg, he became involved in anti-colonial politics, joining the ANC and
becoming a founding member of its Youth League. After the South African National
Party came to power in 1948, he rose to prominence in the ANC's 1952 Defiance
Campaign, was appointed superintendent of the organisation's Transvaal chapter
and presided over the 1955 Congress of the People. Working as a lawyer, he was
repeatedly arrested for seditious activities and, with the ANC leadership, was
unsuccessfully prosecuted in the Treason Trial from 1956 to 1961. Although
initially committed to non-violent protest, he co-founded the militant Umkhonto
we Sizwe (MK) in 1961 in association with the South African Communist Party,
leading a sabotage campaign against the apartheid government. In 1962 he was
arrested, convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the state, and sentenced to life
imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial.
Mandela served over 27 years in prison, initially on Robben Island, and later in
Pollsmoor Prison and Victor Verster Prison. An international campaign lobbied
for his release. He was released in 1990, during a time of escalating civil
strife. Mandela joined negotiations with President F. W. de Klerk to abolish
apartheid and establish multiracial elections in 1994, in which he led the ANC
to victory and became South Africa's first black president. He published his
autobiography in 1995. During his tenure in the Government of National Unity he
invited several other political parties to join the cabinet. As agreed to during
the negotiations to end apartheid in South Africa, he promulgated a new
constitution. He also created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to
investigate past human rights abuses. While continuing the former government's
liberal economic policy, his administration also introduced measures to
encourage land reform, combat poverty, and expand healthcare services.
Internationally, he acted as mediator between Libya and the United Kingdom in
the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial, and oversaw military intervention in
Lesotho. He declined to run for a second term, and was succeeded by his deputy,
Thabo Mbeki. Mandela became an elder statesman, focusing on charitable work in
combating poverty and HIV/AIDS through the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Mandela was a controversial figure for much of his life. Denounced as a Marxist
terrorist by critics, he nevertheless gained international acclaim for his
activism, having received more than 250 honours, including the 1993 Nobel Peace
Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Soviet Order of Lenin and the
Bharat Ratna. He is held in deep respect within South Africa, where he is often
referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, or as Tata ("Father"); he is often
described as "the father of the nation".
In office |
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Deputy |
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Preceded by |
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Succeeded by |
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Personal details |
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Born |
Rolihlahla
Mandela |
Died |
5 December 2013(2013-12-05)
(aged 95) |
Nationality |
South African |
Political party |
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Spouse(s) |
Evelyn Ntoko Mase |
Children |
· Madiba Thembekile Mandela · Makaziwe Mandela · Zenani Mandela · Zindziswa Mandela step children · Josina Z. Machel · Samora M. Machel Jnr. |
University of Fort Hare |
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Profession |
· Lawyer |
Religion |
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Signature |
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Website |
Mandela has been depicted in cinema and television on multiple occasions. He was portrayed by Danny Glover in the 1987 HBO telefilm Mandela. The 1997 film Mandela and de Klerk starred Sidney Poitier as Mandela, and Dennis Haysbert played him in Goodbye Bafana (2007). In the 2009 BBC telefilm Mrs Mandela, Mandela was portrayed by David Harewood, and Morgan Freeman portrayed him in Invictus (2009). Terrence Howard portrayed him in the 2011 film Winnie Mandela. He is portrayed by Idris Elba in the 2013 film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
- Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory
- Nelson Mandela Children's Fund
- Nelson Mandela Foundation
- Mandela Rhodes Foundation
- The Elders
- Nelson Mandela Museum
- Nelson Mandela Day
- Works by or about Nelson Mandela in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
- Nelson Mandela at the Open Directory Project