I was not born with a hunger to be free, I was born free.
I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else’s freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.
Part of building a new nation means building a spirit of tolerance, love and respect amongst the people of this country.
Religion is one of the most important forces in the world. Whether you are a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist, a Jew, or a Hindu, religion is a great force, and it can help one have command of one’s own morality, one’s own behavior, and one’s own attitude.
Disabled children are equally entitled to an exciting and brilliant future.
There are so many men and women who hold no distinctive positions but whose contribution towards the development of society has been enormous.
We need a fundamental change of mindset with regards to the way we speak and behave about sex and sexuality. Boys and men have a particularly critical role in this regard, changing the chauvinist and demeaning ways sexuality and women were traditionally dealt with in both our actions and speaking.
No form of violence can ever be excused in a society that wishes to call itself decent.
We should take heart from our own experience and performance. In a cynical world we have become an inspiration to many.
Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.
The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices – submit or fight. That time has now come to South Africa. We shall not submit and we have no choice but to hit back by all means in our power in defence of our people, our future, and our freedom.
If you want to change the world, help the women.
The challenge for each one of you is to take up these ideals of tolerance and respect for others and put them to practical use in your schools, your communities and throughout your lives.
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.
Men come and men go, I have come and I will go when my time comes.
One of the sad realities today is that very few people, especially young people, read books. Unless we can find imaginative ways of addressing this reality, future generations are in danger of losing their history.
We tried in our simple way to lead our life in a manner that may make a difference to those of others.
It never hurts to think too highly of a person; often they become ennobled and act better because of it.
The most difficult matter is not so much to change the world as yourself.
The history of struggle is rich with stories of heroes and heroines – some of them leaders, some of them followers, all of them deserve to be remembered.