Here are 30 powerful quotes from Nelson Mandela, a former President of South Africa. Sorted from where it was said:
- “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Speech in South Africa, 1993
- “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 “Long Walk to Freedom”, 1994
- “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Attributed, 2001
- “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.” – From “Long Walk to Freedom”, 1994
- “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.” – Attributed, 1995
- “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.” – From “Long Walk to Freedom”, 1994
- “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” – Attributed, 2008
- “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Attributed, 1993
- “We must use time creatively, and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.” – From “Speech at the Rivonai Trail”, 1964
- “A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.” – Attributed, 2001
- “I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.” – From “Long Walk to Freedom”, 1994
- “As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” – Inaugural Address, 1994
- “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” – Speech at the launch of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, 1995
- “I never lose. I either win or learn.” – Attributed, 2001
- “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” – Speech at Walter Sisulu’s 90th birthday celebration, 2002
- “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice.” – Speech at the Live 8 concert, 2005
- “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.” – From “Long Walk to Freedom”, 1994
- “It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails.” – From “Long Walk to Freedom”, 1994
- “Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.” – Inaugural Address, 1994
- “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.” – Speech in Pretoria, 1997
- “It is not where you start but how high you aim that matters for success.” – Attributed, 2001
- “When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.” – From “Long Walk to Freedom”, 1994
- “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” – Speech at the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, 1995
- “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” – Attributed, 2008
- “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.” – Speech at the launch of the “Make Poverty History” campaign, 2007
- “Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.” – Speech in Durban, 1995
- “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.” – From “Long Walk to Freedom”, 1994
- “There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” – From “Long Walk to Freedom”, 1994
- “A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” – From “Long Walk to Freedom”, 1994
- “Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening.” – Attributed, 2001