Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013)

Nelson Mandela passed away today. He is one of my greatest role models. I will always remember him with an immense amount of love.

As a South African, here are some reasons why I love and admire him so much:

• Despite spending 27 years in prison, he emerged without bitterness, embodying forgiveness and reconciliation.
• His innate joyfulness and immense charisma.
• The way he fought tirelessly to dismantle apartheid and ensure equality for all South Africans.
• The way he led South Africa through a peaceful transition to democracy.
• The way his commitment to non-violence and unity inspired a divided nation to come together.
• The fact he gave South Africans the courage to dream of a better, united future.
• His belief in education as a powerful tool for change inspired countless initiatives to empower young South Africans.
• Despite his fame, he remained humble and grounded, always putting others before himself.
  
  

Some favourite quotes

• After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.  
• For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.  
• Forget the past.
• Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace.
• You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution.
• 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.
• Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.  
• I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances.
• I stand here before you not as a prophet, but as a humble servant of you, the people.
• I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.
• I am not an optimist, but a great believer of hope.
• No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Nelson Mandela
• We owe our children – the most vulnerable citizens in any society – a life free from violence and fear.
• What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.
• Action without vision is only passing time, vision without action is merely day dreaming, but vision with action can change the world.
• Your playing small does not serve the world.
• And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.  
• There are few misfortunes in this world that you cannot turn into a personal trimuph if you have the iron will and the neccessary skill.
• Lead from the back - and let others believe they are in front.
• It is wise to persuade people to do things and make them think it was their own idea.
• Nelson Mandela quotes on Wisdom Trove