We owe our children β the most vulnerable citizens in any society β a life free from violence and fear.
Nelson MandelaRead
Resentment is like a glass of poison that a man drinks; then he sits down and waits for his enemy to die.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Holding onto resentment harms the person who feels it more than the intended target.
This quote by Nelson Mandela illustrates the destructive nature of resentment, comparing it to drinking poison. The underlying message conveys that harboring negative feelings towards others ultimately affects the individual who feels this resentment, rather than harming the perceived enemy. It emphasizes the futility of allowing anger and hate to take control over one's peace and well-being.
Themes
ResentmentPoisonForgivenessAngerWell-Being
In practice
Example use cases
Including this quote in a motivational talk about letting go of negative emotions.
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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