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I am fundamentally an optimist.

Nelson Mandela

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Nelson Mandela
Age: 95 †
Born: 1918
Born: July 18
Died: 2013
Died: December 5
Autobiographer
Former President Of South Africa
Lawyer
Political Activist
Political Prisoner
Politician
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Mandela
Prisoner 46664
Madiba
Fundamentally
Optimist

More quotes by Nelson Mandela

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There are leaders who know that however furious the debate, there are good men and women in all population groups - amongst blacks, amongst whites, and amongst Afrikaans and English speaking people.
Nelson Mandela
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I told my cellmates about the oppression of the whites and apartheid. I helped organize hunger strikes and the like in my prison.
Nelson Mandela
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The curious beauty about African music is that it uplifts even as it tells a sad story.
Nelson Mandela
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The majority of South Africans, black and white, recognize that apartheid has no future. It has to be ended by our own decisive mass action in order to build peace and security. The mass campaign of defiance and other actions of our organization and people can only culminate in the establishment of democracy.
Nelson Mandela
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We have introduced a rule of law. That never existed for centuries in this country [South Africa], especially under the apartheid regime, when the law was reduced into disrepute.
Nelson Mandela
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It is wise to persuade people to do things and make them think it was their own idea.
Nelson Mandela
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Do not allow your anger to control your reason, but rather your reason to control your anger.
Nelson Mandela
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The brave man is not the one who has no fears, he is the one who triumphs over his fears.
Nelson Mandela
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There is a constant struggle between good an evil in the world. It is up to good people to choose the right side
Nelson Mandela
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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
Nelson Mandela
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I learned that to humiliate another person is to make him suffer an unnecessarily cruel fate. Even as a boy, I defeated my opponents without dishonoring them.
Nelson Mandela
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I feel like a young man of 15.
Nelson Mandela
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Our society needs to re-establish a culture of caring.
Nelson Mandela
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In my younger days, I was arrogant - jail helped me to get rid of it. I did nothing but make enemies because of my arrogance.
Nelson Mandela
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Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear.
Nelson Mandela
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I realized that they could take everything from me except my mind and my heart. They could not take those things. Those things I still had control over. And I decided not to give them away.
Nelson Mandela
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In countries where innocent people are dying, the leaders are following their blood rather than their brains.
Nelson Mandela
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Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair
Nelson Mandela
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I have never cared very much for personal prizes. A person does not become a freedom fighter in the hope of winning awards.
Nelson Mandela
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Give a child love, laughter and peace, not AIDS.
Nelson Mandela