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People tend to measure themselves by external accomplishments, but jail allows a person to focus on internal ones such as honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, generosity and an absence of variety. You learn to look into yourself.

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
Persons
Measure
Sincerity
Person
Absence
External
Look
Honesty
Jail
Looks
Tend
Accomplishment
People
Humility
Generosity
Ones
Allows
Accomplishments
Focus
Variety
Internals
Learn
Simplicity
Internal

More quotes by Nelson Mandela

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No child in Africa, and in fact anywhere in the world, should be denied education.
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You know, you can only lead them from behind.
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As we judge others so are we judged by others. The suspicious will always be tormented by suspicion.
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It is a grave error for any leader to be oversensitive in the face of criticism
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Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.
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We can build a society grounded on friendship and our common humanity - a society founded on tolerance. That is the only road open to us.
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There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.
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It's in your hands to make the world a better place.
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For me, survival is the ability to cope with difficulties, with circumstances, and to overcome them.
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The names of Dingane and Bambata, Hintsa and Makana, Squngthi and Dalasile, Moshoeshoe and Sekhukhuni, were praised as the glory of the entire African nation. I hoped then that life might offer me the opportunity to serve my people and make my own humble contribution to their freedom struggle.
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My son has died of AIDS.
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Some of the mission groups that have been responsible for our education have not been part of the government. In fact, they acted contrary to what the government had planned to do.
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The people of Africa have learned the lessons of patience and endurance in their long struggle for freedom. In a cynical world we have become an inspiration to many. We signal that good can be achieved amongst human beings who are prepared to trust, prepared to belief in the goodness of people.
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We cannot blame other people for our troubles. We are not victims of the influx of foreign people into South Africa. We must remember that it was mainly due to the aggressive and hostile policies of the apartheid regime that the economic development of our neighbours was undermined.
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Nonviolence is a good policy when the conditions permit.
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Our society needs to re-establish a culture of caring.
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To a freedom fighter hope is what a lifebelt is to a swimmer - a guarantee that one will keep afloat and free from danger.
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I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. 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.
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Resentment is like a glass of poison that a man drinks then he sits down and waits for his enemy to die.
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