The day I am afraid to do, that is the day I am no longer fit to lead.

Only through hardship, sacrifice and militant action can freedom be won. The struggle is my life. I will continue fighting for freedom until the end of my days.

No form of violence can ever be excused in a society that wishes to call itself decent

Out of the experience of extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud.

That was one of the things that worried me – to be raised to the position of a semi-god – because then you are no longer a human being. I wanted to be known as Mandela, a man with weaknesses, some of which are fundamental, and a man who is committed, but never the less, sometimes he fails to live up to expectations.

I don't think there is much history can say about me. I just want to be remembered as part of that collective.

The impression that you are a demigod worried me. I wanted to be like an ordinary human being with virtues and vices.