Nelson Mandela was an iconic leader and activist who dedicated his life to fighting for human rights. Nelson Mandela believed in the power of education and communication to create change and his quotes reflect that.
On December 5, 2013, the world lost a treasure; however, Nelson Mandela left behind a legacy of change and progress that will never be forgotten. We curated 39 of his most famous quotes that will challenge, motivate, and inspire you to make a difference in the world. Enjoy!
Enjoy these Nelson Mandela quotes…
1) “A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.”
2) “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
3) “I am not a saint unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.”
4) “As I have said, the first thing is, to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself.”
5) “I have always believed exercise is a key not only to physical health but to peace of mind.”
6) “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.”
7) “A critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy. The press must be free from state interference. It must have the economic strength to stand up to the blandishments of government officials. It must have sufficient independence from vested interests to be bold and inquiring without fear or favour. It must enjoy the protection of the constitution so that it can protect our rights as citizens.”
8) “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”
9) “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Have dedication and passion for everything you do…
10) “Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.”
11) “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.”
12) “A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.”
13) “I am fundamentally an optimist. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.”
14) “A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.”
Quotes by Nelson Mandela about equality regardless of race or gender.
15) “I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I fight it now and will do so until the end of my days.”
16) “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.”
17) “I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.”
18) “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.”
19) “It is in your hands, to make a better world for all who live in it.”
Lead from the back…
20) “Lead from the back – and let others believe they are in front.”
21) “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.”
22) “I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles.”
23) “Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening.”
24) “Many people in this country have paid the price before me and many will pay the price after me.”
25) “Money won’t create success, the freedom to make it will.”
26) “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.”
27) “It is not our diversity which divides us; it is not our ethnicity or religion or culture that divides us. Since we have achieved our freedom, there can only be one division amongst us: between those who cherish democracy and those who do not.”
28) “One cannot be prepared for something while secretly believing it will not happen.”
29) “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice.”
Freedom and equality for all people are just one of the legacies left behind by Nelson Mandela…
30) “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.”
31) “Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.”
32) “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”
33) “It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails.”
34) “It is in the character of growth that we should learn from both pleasant and unpleasant experiences.”
35) “There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”
36) “I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.”
37) “We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.”
38) “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.”
39) “When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.”
I hope you enjoyed these quotes by Nelson Mandela!
Please share these quotes by Nelson Mandela with your friends and family.
