We owe our children – the most vulnerable citizens in any society – a life free from violence and fear.
Nelson MandelaRead
As the years progress one increasingly realises the importance of friendship and human solidarity. And if a 90-year-old may offer some unsolicited advice on this occasion, it would be that you, irrespective of your age, should place human solidarity, the concern for the other, at the centre of the values by which you live.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Friendship and human solidarity become increasingly important as we age, and we should prioritize caring for others.
In this quote, Nelson Mandela emphasizes the growing realization of the significance of friendship and solidarity as one ages. He suggests that regardless of one’s age, one should prioritize compassion and concern for others, highlighting that these values are essential for a fulfilling life and contribute to a cohesive society.
Themes
FriendshipSolidarityValuesConcernHumanity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a toast at a gathering of friends to highlight the value of deep connections.
More from Nelson Mandela
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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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