We owe our children β the most vulnerable citizens in any society β a life free from violence and fear.
Nelson MandelaRead
Our march to freedom is irreversible. We must not allow fear to stand in our way.
Interpretation
The journey toward freedom is certain and cannot be undone, so we should not let fear hinder our progress.
Nelson Mandela's quote emphasizes the importance of courage and determination in the pursuit of freedom. It suggests that while fear may be a natural part of any struggle, it should not deter us from progressing toward our goals, especially when it comes to achieving fundamental rights and liberties.
In practice
In a speech about civil rights, someone might quote Mandela to inspire action.
We owe our children β the most vulnerable citizens in any society β a life free from violence and fear.
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.
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.
We signal that good can be achieved amongst human beings who are prepared to trust, prepared to believe in the goodness of people.
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.
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.
Burst down those closet doors once and for all, and stand up and start to fight.
Remember your personal demons should be afraid of you, because you are their home, their food, and as you heal, their executioner.
Fear is at the root of so many of the barriers that women face. Fear of not being liked. Fear of making the wrong choice. Fear of drawing negative attention. Fear of overreaching. Fear of being judged. Fear of failure. And the holy trinity of fear: the fear of being a bad mother/wife/daughter.
It is very normal for people on the ground to look at somebody apparently walking in midair and thinking first that person is crazy and thinking secondly that person risks his or her life.
Non-violence is a very powerful weapon. Most people don't understand the power of non-violence and tend to be amazed by the whole idea. Those who have been involved in bringing about change and see the difference between violence and non-violence are firmly committed to a lifetime of non-violence, not because it is easy or because it is cowardly, but because it is an effective and very powerful way.
I was 11 when I was molested. It was like a nuclear explosion going off in my life, destroying everything.
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