To truly lead one's people, one must also truly know them.

Leaders will have to give clear and decisive leadership towards a world of tolerance and respect for difference, and an uncompromising commitment to peaceful solutions of conflicts and disputes.

A new society cannot be created by reproducing the repugnant past, however refined or enticingly repackaged.

Great anger and violence can never build a nation.

The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices - submit or fight. That time has now come to South Africa. We shall not submit and we have no choice but to hit back by all means in our power in defence of our people, our future, and our freedom

You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution.

We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.