We owe our children – the most vulnerable citizens in any society – a life free from violence and fear.
Nelson MandelaRead
I am not the only one who did not want revenge. Almost all my colleagues in prison did not want revenge, because there is no time to do anything else except to try and save your people.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of focusing on helping others rather than seeking revenge.
Nelson Mandela's quote highlights the profound realization that during times of adversity and suffering, particularly in the context of imprisonment, the priority should shift from personal grievances to collective well-being. It underscores the notion that revenge is futile and that one's energy is better spent on saving and uplifting one's community. This perspective reflects Mandela's commitment to reconciliation and leadership, demonstrating that true strength lies in compassion and solidarity rather than retaliation.
Themes
RevengeForgivenessCommunityLeadershipStrength
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about forgiveness and community rebuilding after conflict.
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.
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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.
Nelson MandelaRead
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