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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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It is not the kings and generals that make history, but the masses of the people.
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Millions of people in the world's poorest countries remain enslaved by the chains of poverty. It is time to set them free.
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As the years progress one increasingly realises the importance of friendship and human solidarity. And if a 90-year-old may offer some unsolicited advice on this occasion, it would be that you, irrespective of your age, should place human solidarity, the concern for the other, at the centre of the values by which you live.
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I am confident that nobody... will accuse me of selfishness if I ask to spend time, while I am still in good health, with my family, my friends and also with myself.
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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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Racism is a blight on the human conscience
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Why is the United States behaving so arrogantly? All that (Mr. Bush) wants is Iraqi oil.
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It only seems impossible until it's done.
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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.
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Video screenshot Facts and figures from Nelson Mandela's life, set to the trailer from 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.' Man's goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.
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There are many people who feel that it is useless and futile to continue talking about peace and non-violence against a government whose only reply is savage attacks on an unarmed and defenceless people.
Nelson Mandela
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Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.
Nelson Mandela
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Peace is the greatest weapon for development that any person can have.
Nelson Mandela
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I will use the rest of my life to help the poor overcome the problems confronting them - poverty is the greatest challenge facing humanity. That is why I build schools I want to free people from poverty and illiteracy.
Nelson Mandela
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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.
Nelson Mandela
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Extremists on all sides thrive, fed by the blood lust of centuries gone by.
Nelson Mandela
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Does anybody really think that they didn't get what they had because they didn't have the talent or the strength or the endurance or the commitment?
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Individuals get caught up in the policy of their country. In prison, for instance, a warden or officer is not promoted if he doesn't follow the policy of the government - though he himself does not believe in that policy.
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The freedom we enjoy is a richly textured gift handcrafted by ordinary folk
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The Good News borne by our risen Messiah who chose not one race, who chose not one country, who chose not one language, who chose not one tribe, who chose all of humankind!
Nelson Mandela