Sunday, December 8, 2013

The Life of Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013

By Jigar Mehta December 6th, 2013
Mr. Mandela, who led the emancipation of South Africa from white minority rule and served as his country’s first black president, died at 95.



Nelson Mandela greatest quotes as anti-apartheid hero dies aged 95


Speaking about his mortality, Mr Mandela once said: "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."

The father of modern South Africa Nelson Mandela has died aged 95.

The former freedom fighter, who united blacks and whites in the post-apartheid era, passed away after battling a recurring lung infection.

After generations where people were discriminated against and oppressed because of the colour of their skin, Mandela achieved the impossible.

He liberated his country after 27 long years in prison.

Here are some of his most inspirational quotes.

"I was made, by the law, a criminal, not because of what I had done, but because of what I stood for, because of what I thought, because of my conscience... If I had my time over I would do the same again. So would any man who dares call himself a man." After being sentenced to five years hard labour, 1962.

"I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days." First courtroom statement, 1962.

"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to see realised. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." Speaking, while facing the death penalty, at the Rivonia trial, 1964.

"Difficulties break some men but make others." Letter to wife, Winnie,1975.

"Only free men can negotiate; prisoners cannot enter into contracts. Your freedom and mine cannot be separated." - Refusing to bargain for freedom after 21 years in prison, 1985.

"I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all. I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands." Speaking on the day of his release, 1990.

"The value of our shared reward will and must be measured by the joyful peace which will triumph, because the common humanity that bonds both black and white into one human race, will have said to each one of us that we shall all live like the children of paradise. Thus shall we live, because we will have created a society which recognises that all people are born equal, with each entitled in equal measure to life, liberty, prosperity, human rights and good governance. Such a society should never allow again that there should be prisoners of conscience nor that any person's human right should be violated." Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, 1993.

"Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world. Let freedom reign! The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement! God bless Africa!" Inaugural celebration address, 1994.

"No one is born hating another person because of the colour 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." From his autobiography, Long Walk To Freedom, published 1995.

"I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended." Long Walk to Freedom, 1995.

"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." - Interview for Academy Award-winning documentary 'Mandela', 1996.

"I really wanted to retire and rest and spend more time with my children, my grandchildren and of course with my wife. But the problems are such that for anybody with a conscience who can use whatever influence he may have to try to bring about peace, it's difficult to say no." On his continued political activism, Newsweek interview, 2002.

No comments:

Post a Comment