Nelson Mandela Quotes
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Prison itself is a tremendous education in the need for patience and perseverance. It is above all a test of one's commitment.
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Africans require, want, the franchise on the basis of one man one vote. They want political independence.
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There must be an end to white monopoly on political power, and a fundamental restructuring of our political and economic systems to ensure that the inequalities of apartheid are addressed and our society thoroughly democratized.
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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. Their dreams have become reality. Freedom is their reward.
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You know, you can only lead them from behind.
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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.
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The ANC has never at any period of its history advocated a revolutionary change in the economic structure of the country, nor has it, to the best of my recollection, ever condemned capitalist society.
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Forget the past.
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I cannot say for certain if there is such a thing as love at first sight, but I do know that the moment I first glimpsed Winnie Nomzamo, I knew that I wanted to have her as my wife.
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I can't pretend that I'm brave and that I can beat the whole world.
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Because of their courage and persistence for many years, we can, today, even set the dates when all humanity will join together to celebrate one of the outstanding human victories of our century. When that moment comes, we shall, together, rejoice in a common victory over racism, apartheid and white minority rule.
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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.
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Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will.
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When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.
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Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts.
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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.
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Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.
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It always seems impossible until it's done.
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There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children.
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I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances.
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At the outset, I want to say that the suggestion that the struggle in South Africa is under the influence of foreigners or communists is wholly incorrect. I have done whatever I did because of my experience in South Africa and my own proudly felt African background, and not because of what any outsider might have said.
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Let freedom reign. The sun never set on so glorious a human achievement.
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When the history of our times is written, will we be remembered as the generation that turned our backs in a moment of global crisis or will it be recorded that we did the right thing?
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It is wise to persuade people to do things and make them think it was their own idea.