Quotes from Nelson Mandela

Sometimes, I feel like one who is on the sidelines, who has missed life itself.

I am confident that nobody... will accuse me of selfishness if I ask to spend time, while I am still in good health, with my family, my friends and also with myself.

Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.

Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts.

I made a mistake by being ejected from the presidency. Next time, I will choose a Cabinet which will allow me to be life President.

Forget the past.

I do not deny that I planned sabotage. I did not plan it in a spirit of recklessness nor because I have any love of violence. I planned it as a result of a calm and sober assessment of the political situation that had arisen after many years of tyranny, exploitation and oppression of my people by the whites.

I really wanted to retire and rest and spend more time with my children, my grandchildren and of course with my wife.

There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.

Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.

As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.

Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.