Nelson Mandela

Whatever position I occupied, it was the result of colleagues – of my comrades in the movement – who had decided in their wisdom to use me for the purpose of focusing the attention of the country and the international community on me.

Nelson Mandela

When I came to Johannesburg from the countryside, I knew nobody, but many strangers were very kind to me. I then was dragged into politics, and then, subsequently, I became a lawyer.

Nelson Mandela

When I walked out of the gate I knew that if I continued to hate these people I was still in prison.

Nelson Mandela

When I went to jail, I was a trained lawyer. And when the wardens received letters of demands or summonses, they didn’t have the resources to go to an attorney to help them. I would help them settle their cases, so they became attached to me and the other prisoners.

Nelson Mandela

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?

Nelson Mandela

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

Nelson Mandela

When we can sit in the face of insanity or dislikes and be free from the need to make it different, then we are free.

Nelson Mandela

When we decided to take up arms, it was because the only other choice was to surrender and to submit to slavery.

Nelson Mandela

When we dehumanise and demonise our opponents, we abandon the possibility of peacefully resolving our differences, and seek to justify violence against them.

Nelson Mandela

When you are behind bars with no hope of release, you need to find strength wherever you can. Personally, I found strength in Michael Jackson.

Nelson Mandela