Quotes By Nelson Mandela

I learned that to humiliate another person is to make him suffer an unnecessarily cruel fate. Even as a boy, I defeated my opponents without dishonoring them.

Although I am a gregarious person, I love solitude even more.

As long as many of our people still live in utter poverty, as long as children still live under plastic covers, as long as many of our people are still without jobs, no South African should rest and wallow in the joy of freedom.

A leader is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.

Appearances matter - and remember to smile.

After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.

Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.

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.

Know your enemy - and learn about his favorite sport.

Quitting is leading too.

When the water starts boiling it is foolish to turn off the heat.

It is not where you start but how high you aim that matters for success.

Tread softly, breathe peacefully, laugh hysterically.

Success in politics demands that you must take your people into confidence about your views and state them very clearly, very politely, very calmly, but nevertheless, state them openly.

In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.

When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.

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.

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.

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

The brave man is not the one who has no fears, he is the one who triumphs over his fears.