About Nelson Mandela

Anti-apartheid leader who became South Africa's first democratically elected president. (1918-2013)

See all 10 Nelson Mandela quotes

More from Nelson Mandela

• No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.Long Walk to Freedom (1994)
• I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.Long Walk to Freedom (1994)
• A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.Long Walk to Freedom (1994)
• Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.Speech at the launch of the Mindset Network (2003)
• What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.Speech at Walter Sisulu's 90th birthday celebration (2002)
• Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.Chief Albert Luthuli Centenary celebrations (1998)

More quotes on courage

• Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much.Theodore Roosevelt
• We cannot avoid meeting great issues. All that we can determine for ourselves is whether we shall meet them well or ill.Theodore Roosevelt
• We shall make mistakes; and if we let these mistakes frighten us from our work we shall show ourselves weaklings.Theodore Roosevelt
• The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.Franklin D. Roosevelt
• You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.Eleanor Roosevelt
• You must do the thing you think you cannot do.Eleanor Roosevelt

All courage quotes