Quotes By Nelson Mandela

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

I was called a terrorist yesterday, but when I came out of jail, many people embraced me, including my enemies, and that is what I normally tell other people who say those who are struggling for liberation in their country are terrorists.

I really wanted to retire and rest and spend more time with my children, my grandchildren and of course with my wife.

I have been influenced in my thinking by both west and east.

Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts.

You know, you can only lead them from behind.

I have retired, but if there's anything that would kill me it is to wake up in the morning not knowing what to do.

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.

A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don't have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed.

If the United States of America or Britain is having elections, they don't ask for observers from Africa or from Asia. But when we have elections, they want observers.

Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another.

If there is a country that has committed unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America.

In my country we go to prison first and then become President.

Only free men can negotiate; prisoners cannot enter into contracts. Your freedom and mine cannot be separated.

My son has died of AIDS.

I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man.

Nonviolence is a good policy when the conditions permit.

Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.

Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will.

The titanic effort that has brought liberation to South Africa, and ensured the total liberation of Africa, constitutes an act of redemption for the black people of the world.

Give a child love, laughter and peace, not AIDS.

There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.

I stand here before you not as a prophet, but as a humble servant of you, the people.

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.

Let us give publicity to H.I.V./AIDS and not hide it, because the only way to make it appear like a normal illness like TB, like cancer, is always to come out and say somebody has died because of H.I.V./AIDS, and people will stop regarding it as something extraordinary.

In countries where innocent people are dying, the leaders are following their blood rather than their brains.

I have always regarded myself, in the first place, as an African patriot.

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

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

A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.