Quote collection
666 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"I was made, by the law, a criminal, not because of what I had done, but because of what I stood for, because of what I thought, because of my conscience... If I had my time over I would do the same again. So would any man who dares call himself a man."
"There was much in such a society that was primitive and insecure and it certainly could never measure up to the demands of the present epoch. But in such a society are contained the seeds of revolutionary democracy in which none will be held in slavery."
"The truth is that we are not yet free; we have merely achieved the freedom to be free, the right not to be oppressed. We have not taken the final step of our journey, but the first step on a longer and even more difficult road. 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. The true test of our devotion to freedom is just beginning."
"Greece is the mother of democracy and South Africa is its youngest daughter"
"I cannot and will not give any undertaking at a time when I, and you, the people, are not free. Your freedom and mine cannot be separated."
"When those in power deny you of freedom the only path to freedom is power"
"I cherish my own freedom dearly, but I care even more for your freedom. Too many have died since I went to prison. Too many have suffered for the love of freedom. I owe it to their widows, to their orphans, to their mothers and their fathers, who have grieved and wept for them ..... Not only have I suffered during these long lonely wasted years. I am no less life-loving than you are. But I cannot sell the birthright of the people to be free ....... Only free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts. Your freedom and mine cannot be separated."
"Let us remind ourselves that it is ordinary people - men and women, boys and girls - that make the world a special place"
"You know, you can only lead them from behind."
"The private sector granted bursaries [scholarships] for the children of their workers. Some of them built homes for their workers. They had in-service training, which improved the skills of their workers. So that spirit was there. All we did was merely exploit it."
"I commend #AIESEC's continuing efforts to develop the #future #business #leadership of our countries."
"Sport has the power to change the world... Sport can awaken hope where there was previously only despair."
"We have introduced a democratic constitution, which put suvery South African on an equal basis."
"Teach the children that Africans are not one iota inferior to Europeans."
"There is an absence of democratic accountability and control in every sphere of government and the state. To address this debilitating legacy requires determined action and a deep commitment to transforming our society from a crisis ridden present into something all South Africans can be truly proud of."
"I don't think there is much history can say about me. I just want to be remembered as part of that collective."
"HIV/AIDS is the greatest danger we have faced for many, many centuries. HIV/AIDS is worse than a war. It is like a world war. Millions of people are dying from it."
"Only armchair politicians are immune from committing mistakes. Errors are inherent in political action."
"We succeeded to take our last steps to freedom in conditions of relative peace. We commit ourselves to the construction of a complete, just and lasting peace. We have triumphed in the effort to implant hope in the breasts of the millions of our people."
"There is little favorable to be said about poverty, but it was often an incubator of true friendship."