Racism is a blight on the human conscience. The idea that any people can be inferior to another, to the point where those who consider themselves superior define and treat the rest as subhuman, denies the humanity even of those who elevate themselves to the status of gods.

We have introduced a democratic constitution, which put suvery South African on an equal basis.

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

There's no such thing as part freedom.

I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.

I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.

Great anger and violence can never build a nation.