How Nelson Mandela Inspired Mankind
Today we are going to talk about one of the most important and inspirational people of all time. Living an exemplary life with great talent, Nelson Mandela has left us so much through his legacy. This includes his inspirational words that can still help us stay strong when we are going through tough times.
For those of you who are only familiar with the name and not the man, Nelson Mandela lived in South Africa and was a great pioneer who helped bring an end to apartheid. Although he was imprisoned for 27 years due to his anti-apartheid actions, he was released and later became his country’s first black president in 1994. He advocated for peace, racial unity and social justice. He was a champion of the people and spent 95 years building his legacy until his death in 2013.
Nelson Mandela was one of the world’s greatest leaders. His life has left us with one of the best examples of what it really means to fight for freedom.
In the words of Nelson Mandela…
Mandela’s writings were very precise and gave the sensation that you were speaking with him face to face. Having a very clear philosophy on life, he was gifted with the ability to express exactly what he wanted to on paper. Many of the quotes that we have compiled below were taken during the stage in his life when he was imprisoned.
Reflections on mankind and death
“If I had my time over I would do the same again, so would any man who dare calls himself a man.”
“If I have to die, I declare for all who want to know, that I will go to meet my destiny.”
“Death is something inevitable. When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort and that is, therefore, why I will sleep for the eternity.”
Reflections on his ideals
“…poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice.”
“We need to make the eradication of poverty one of the top world priorities and understand that we all share the same humanity; diversity is our greatest strength.”
“The anchor of all my dreams is the collective wisdom of mankind as a whole.”
“The action of the masses has the ability to overthrow governments.”
“We find ourselves at the dawn of the African century, a century in which Africa will occupy its rightful place among the nations of the world”.
“If the development of the African nation had not been interrupted by the arrival of the white settlers, the same thing would have happened as in Europe, but without having contact with them.”
Reflections about life
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”
“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”
“I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles.”
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
“Honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, pure generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve others – qualities which are within easy reach of every soul – are the foundation of one’s spiritual life.”
“Forgiveness liberates the soul, it removes fear.”
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
“What matters in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.”
Which of these quotes from Mandela inspire you the most? Copy them down and take them with you wherever you go!