We owe our children β the most vulnerable citizens in any society β a life free from violence and fear.
Nelson MandelaRead
The collapse of good conscience and the absence of accountability and public scrutiny have led to crimes against humanity and violations of international law.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The lack of moral integrity and accountability can result in severe consequences like human rights abuses.
Nelson Mandela emphasizes that when individuals and institutions fail to uphold moral standards and lack accountability, it paves the way for grave injustices, including crimes against humanity. This quote serves as a reminder of the importance of a conscientious society that holds itself accountable to ethical principles and legal norms.
Themes
Moral IntegrityAccountabilityHuman RightsJusticeEthical Principles
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used to highlight the importance of ethical leadership in a corporate setting.
More from Nelson Mandela
All quotes βWhat freedom am I being offered while the organization of the people remains banned? Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts.
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The past is a rich resource on which we can draw in order to make decisions for the future, but it does not dictate our choices. We should look back at the past and select what is good, and leave behind what is bad.
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We signal that good can be achieved amongst human beings who are prepared to trust, prepared to believe in the goodness of people.
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After one has been in prison, it is the small things that one appreciates: being able to take a walk whenever one wants, going into a shop and buying a newspaper, speaking or choosing to remain silent. The simple act of being able to control one's person.
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I dream of the realization of the unity of Africa, whereby its leaders combine in their efforts to solve the problems of this continent. I dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wildernesses.
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