Racism is a blight on the human conscience

It is always impossible until it is done.

I stand here before you not as a prophet, but as a humble servant of you, the people.

Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.

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

South Africans must recall the terrible past so that we can deal with it, forgiving where forgiveness is necessary but never forgetting.

I know that, throughout the world, there are good men and women concerned with the greatest challenges facing society today - poverty, illiteracy, and disease.