Nelson Mandela

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

Tread softly, Breathe peacefully, Laugh hysterically.

Appearances matter – and remember to smile.

It always seems impossible until its done.

Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace.

The greatest glory in living lies in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

That observation which is called knowledge of the world will be found much more frequently to make men cunning than good.

A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle; …they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each other; age creeps upon them; infirmities follow; …those they love are taken from them, and the joy of life is turned to aching grief. It comes at last-the only unpoisoned gift earth ever had for them-and they vanish from a world where they were of no consequence, …a world which will lament them a day and forget them forever.

The way it is now, the asylums can hold the sane people but if we tried to shut up the insane we would run out of building materials.

Welcome evermore to gods and men is the self-helping man. For him all doors are flung wide: him all tongues greet, all honors crown, all eyes follow with desire. Our love goes out to him and embraces him, because he did not need it. We solicitously and apologetically caress and celebrate him, because he held on his way and scorned our disapprobation. The gods loved him because men hated him.

In heaven an angel is no one in particular.

Whether you come from a council estate or a country estate, your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude.

The progress of rivers to the ocean is not so rapid as that of man to error.

We, unaccustomed to courage exiles from delight live coiled in shells of loneliness until love leaves its high holy temple and comes into our sight to liberate us into life. Love arrives and in its train come ecstasies old memories of pleasure ancient histories of pain. Yet if we are bold, love strikes away the chains of fear from our souls. We are weaned from our timidity In the flush of love’s light we dare be brave And suddenly we see that love costs all we are and will ever be. Yet it is only love which sets us free.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.

The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.

I did not wish to take a cabin passage, but rather to go before the mast and on the deck of the world, for there I could best see the moonlight amid the mountains. I do not wish to go below now.

Better a broken promise than none at all.

Nothing is more hopeless than a scheme of merriment.

I encourage you to live with life. Be courageous, adventurous. Give us a tomorrow, more than we deserve.

Put all your eggs in one basket and then watch that basket.