Nelson Mandela, anti-apartheid icon and former president of South Africa died Thursday at 95 years old. There are so many things I can say about this legend but it’s best if I let him do the talking. His words are much more eloquent and powerful than mine could ever hope to be:
On his ideals
“During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to
this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination,
and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic
and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with
equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for. But, my lord, if
needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination,
and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic
and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with
equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for. But, my lord, if
needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
On becoming an anti-apartheid leader
“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.”
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.”
On revenge
“You will achieve more in this
world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution.”
world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution.”
On leadership
“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.”
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.”
On racism
“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.”
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.”
On hatred
“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.”
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.”
On courage
“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.”
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.”
On prison
“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.”
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.”
On freedom
“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.”
cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the
freedom of others.”
On hope
“It always seems impossible
until it’s done.”
until it’s done.”
The history of apartheid, here and “His Day is Done,” a tribute poem for Nelson Mandela by Maya Angelou.
(Pictures via here)
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