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Nelson Mandela

46 quotes

Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. After 27 years of imprisonment, Mandela led his country's transition from apartheid to democracy with remarkable grace and a commitment to reconciliation that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

“Intervention only works when the people concerned seem to be keen for peace.”

— Nelson Mandela

Peace

All Quotes by Nelson Mandela

“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.”

— Nelson Mandela

Good

“There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children.”

— Nelson Mandela

Society

“Before I went to jail, I was active in politics as a member of South Africa's leading organization - and I was generally busy from 7 A.M. until midnight. I never had time to sit and think.”

— Nelson Mandela

Politics

“There are many people who feel that it is useless and futile to continue talking about peace and non-violence against a government whose only reply is savage attacks on an unarmed and defenceless people.”

— Nelson Mandela

Government

“Give a child love, laughter and peace, not AIDS.”

— Nelson Mandela

Love

“Nonviolence is a good policy when the conditions permit.”

— Nelson Mandela

Good

“There is no such thing as part freedom.”

— Nelson Mandela

Freedom

“I have retired, but if there's anything that would kill me it is to wake up in the morning not knowing what to do.”

— Nelson Mandela

Morning

“There is nothing I fear more than waking up without a program that will help me bring a little happiness to those with no resources, those who are poor, illiterate, and ridden with terminal disease.”

— Nelson Mandela

Fear

“I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.”

— Nelson Mandela

Peace

“Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace.”

— Nelson Mandela

Fear

“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

Dreams

“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.”

— Nelson Mandela

Politics

“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”

— Nelson Mandela

Good

“I am confident that nobody... will accuse me of selfishness if I ask to spend time, while I am still in good health, with my family, my friends and also with myself.”

— Nelson Mandela

Family

“I should tie myself to no particular system of society other than of socialism.”

— Nelson Mandela

Society

“Forget the past.”

— Nelson Mandela

Movingon

“Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.”

— Nelson Mandela

Future

“Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another.”

— Nelson Mandela

Experience

“Let freedom reign. The sun never set on so glorious a human achievement.”

— Nelson Mandela

Freedom