Nelson Mandela

I am the captain of my soul.

It always seems impossible until its done.

Any man or institution that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose.

I am not an optimist, but a great believer of hope.

Appearances matter – and remember to smile.

I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances.

Speech is for the convenience of those who are hard of hearing; but there are many fine things which we cannot say if we have to shout.

No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money.

No man was ever great by imitation.

We cannot see things that stare us in the face until the hour comes that the mind is ripened.

From the deepest desires often come the deadliest hate.

This is the true joy in life: Being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

There are only two forces that can carry light to all the corners of the globe… the sun in the heavens and the Associated Press down here.

Prepare for death, if here at night you roam, and sign your will before you sup from home.

Principles aren’t of much account anyway, except at election time. After that you hang them up to let them season.

There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right.

A man never tells you anything until you contradict him.

There is a time when a man distinguishes the idea of felicity from the idea of wealth; it is the beginning of wisdom.

I am admonished in many ways that time is pushing me inexorably along. I am approaching the threshold of age; in 1977 I shall be 142. This is no time to be flitting about the earth. I must cease from the activities proper to youth and begin to take on the dignities and gravities and inertia proper to that season of honorable senility which is on its way.

We are not what we are, nor do we treat or esteem each other for such, but for what we are capable of being.

Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.