We owe our children – the most vulnerable citizens in any society – a life free from violence and fear.
Nelson MandelaRead
There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The greatest gift is the selfless act of giving your time and efforts to help others without seeking rewards.
This quote emphasizes the profound impact of selfless generosity, highlighting that true fulfillment comes from helping others purely for their sake. Nelson Mandela points out that the act of giving one's time and energy is invaluable and that the essence of kindness lies in offering assistance without the expectation of anything in return.
Themes
GiftTimeEnergyHelpSelflessnessKindness
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is perfect for a speech about community service initiatives.
More from Nelson Mandela
All quotes →What freedom am I being offered while the organization of the people remains banned? Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts.
Nelson MandelaRead
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.
Nelson MandelaRead
We signal that good can be achieved amongst human beings who are prepared to trust, prepared to believe in the goodness of people.
Nelson MandelaRead
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.
Nelson MandelaRead
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.
Nelson MandelaRead
Similar quotes
There's no story if there isn't some conflict. The memorable things are usually not how pulled together everybody is. I think everybody feels lonely and trapped sometimes. I would think it's more or less the norm.
Wes AndersonRead
If goodness has causes, it is not goodness; if it has effects, a reward, it is not goodness either. So goodness is outside the chain of cause and effect.
Leo TolstoyRead
The basic idea of Zen is to come in touch with the inner workings of our being, and to do this in the most direct way possible, without resorting to anything external or superadded. Therefore, anything that has the semblance of an external authority is rejected by Zen. Absolute faith is placed in a man's own inner being. For whatever authority there is in Zen, all comes from within.
D.T. SuzukiRead
Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people.
Dennis PragerRead
The consciousness of self is the greatest hindrance to the proper execution of all physical action.
Bruce LeeRead
I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mahatma GandhiRead