We owe our children β the most vulnerable citizens in any society β a life free from violence and fear.
Nelson MandelaRead
Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Overcoming poverty is essential for fairness and justice in society, not just an act of kindness.
Nelson Mandela emphasizes that overcoming poverty should not be viewed merely as an act of charity, but rather as a fundamental aspect of justice. This perspective highlights the need for systemic change to address the root causes of poverty and ensure that every individual has the right to an equitable life free from deprivation.
Themes
PovertyJusticeEqualityCharitySociety
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about social reform, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of addressing economic inequalities.
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.
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
But I really think it's a very unfortunate part of our judicial system and I would feel much, much better if more states would really consider whether they think the benefits outweigh the very serious potential injustice, because in these cases the emotions are very, very high on both sides and to have stakes as high as you do in these cases, there is a special potential for error. We cannot ignore the fact that in recent years a disturbing number of inmates on death row have been exonerated.
John Paul StevensRead
Every American has the duty to obey the law and the right to expect that the law will be enforced.
Robert KennedyRead
One of the things that pains me is we have so tragically underestimated the trauma, the hardship we create in this country when we treat people unfairly, when we incarcerate them unfairly, when we condemn them unfairly.
Bryan StevensonRead
Enforcement priorities and arrest patterns must not lead to disparate treatment under the law, even if such treatment is unintended. And police forces should reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.
Eric HolderRead
It is not a charity but a right, not bounty but justice, that I am pleading for. The present state of civilization is as odious as it is unjust. It is absolutely the opposite of what it should be, and it is necessary that a revolution should be made in it. The contrast of affluence and wretchedness continually meeting and offending the eye, is like dead and living bodies chained together
Thomas PaineRead
Promoting active liberty does not mean allowing the majority to run roughshod over minorities. It calls for taking special care that all groups have a chance to fully participate in society and the political process.
Ruth Bader GinsburgRead