Nelson Mandela Quotes

A collection of quotes by Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela, born on July 18, 1918, in Mvezo, South Africa, was a pivotal figure in the fight against apartheid and ultimately became the first black president of South Africa. After years of injustice and racial segregation, Mandela's unwavering commitment to equality and justice made him an iconic global leader.

As a young lawyer, Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) and became increasingly involved in anti-apartheid activities. He co-founded the ANC Youth League in 1944, advocating for nonviolent resistance against racial discrimination. However, following the passage of repressive laws by the apartheid government, Mandela reluctantly turned to armed resistance, which led to his arrest and conviction for sabotage in 1964.

Mandela spent 27 years in prison, during which he became a symbol of resilience and determination against injustice. His release in 1990 marked a turning point in South Africa's history and set the stage for negotiations with the apartheid government. Mandela played a crucial role in the transition from minority rule to a multi-racial democracy.

In 1994, Mandela made history as he was elected as South Africa's first black president, serving from 1994 to 1999. During his presidency, he focused on dismantling apartheid policies, promoting reconciliation, and fostering socio-economic development. Mandela's leadership and his efforts to heal a deeply divided nation earned him international acclaim, and he remained a symbol of hope for oppressed peoples worldwide.

Nelson Mandela's legacy as a statesman and human rights advocate continues to inspire generations, reminding us of the power of forgiveness, resilience, and the pursuit of justice. He passed away on December 5, 2013, but his impact and principles live on, serving as a beacon of hope for a better and more inclusive world.

No country can really develop unless its citizens are educat

No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated.

A Nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest c

A Nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but it's lowest ones

I had no epiphany, no singular revelation, no moment of trut

I had no epiphany, no singular revelation, no moment of truth, but a steady accumulation of a thousand slights, a thousand indignities and a thousand unremembered moments produced in me an anger, a rebelliousness, a desire to fight the system that imprisoned my people. There was no particular day on which I said, Henceforth I will devote myself to the liberation of my people; instead, I simply found myself doing so, and could not do otherwise.

Only free men can negotiate prisoners cannot enter into cont

Only free men can negotiate prisoners cannot enter into contracts. Your freedom and mine cannot be separated.

No one is born hating another person because of the colour o

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.

Love Religion People

I hate racial discrimination most intensely and all its mani

I hate racial discrimination most intensely and all its manifestations. I have fought all my life; I fight 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 I should feel perfectly at ease and at home with the assurance that I am being tried by a fellow South African, who does not regard me as an inferior, entitled to a special type of justice.

Life Racism Opinions Discrimination

We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the cont

We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination.

Suffering Gender Other

A winner is a dreamer who never gives up

A winner is a dreamer who never gives up

There are times when a leader must move out ahead of the flo

There are times when a leader must move out ahead of the flock, go off in a new direction, confident that he is leading his people the right way.

Leader New Flock

Freedom is indivisible; the chains on any one of my people w

Freedom is indivisible; the chains on any one of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my people were the chains on me.

Freedom Inspirational

Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself

Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening.

Happiness Motivational Inspirational Confidence

Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great, you can be

Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great, you can be that generation

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handso

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very

To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.

Rights Very Deny

It always seems impossible until it is done.

It always seems impossible until it is done.

Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will.

Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will.

Success Money Freedom

If the United States of America or Britain is having electio

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.

I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society

I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.

Nonviolence is a good policy when the conditions permit.

Nonviolence is a good policy when the conditions permit.

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

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