Nelson Mandela

The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

Nothing is black or white.

To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.

It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.

I am the captain of my soul.

Tread softly, Breathe peacefully, Laugh hysterically.

When speculation has done its worst, two and two still make four.

Life is too precious to be spent in this weaving and unweaving of false impressions, and it is better to live quietly under some degree of misrepresentation than to attempt to remove it by the uncertain process of letter-writing.

Every man has a right to utter what he thinks truth, and every other man has a right to knock him down for it. Martyrdom is the test.

Players, Sir! I look on them as no better than creatures set upon tables and joint stools to make faces and produce laughter, like dancing dogs.

People are much more willing to lend you books than bookcases.

One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.

Republics abound in young civilians who believe that the laws make the city, that grave modifications of the policy and modes of living and employments of the population, that commerce, education and religion may be voted in or out; and that any measure, though it were absurd, may be imposed on a people if only you can get sufficient voices to make it a law. But the wise know that foolish legislation is a rope of sand which perishes in the twisting; that the State must follow and not lead the character and progress of the citizen; that the form of government which prevails is the expression of what cultivation exists in the population which permits it. The law is only a memorandum.

Being is the great explainer.

People do not deserve to have good writings; they are so pleased with the bad.

Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.

We may not pay Satan reverence, for that would be indiscreet, but we can at least respect his talents.

I am always sorry when any language is lost, because languages are the pedigrees of nations.

Life is a series of surprises and would not be worth taking or keeping if it were not.

God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.

If man had created man, he would be ashamed of his performance.