My time in prison only deepened my resolve against apartheid. Even while I was in prison, I fought against it, teaching my cellmates about white supremacy and how to fight against it.

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

There is little favorable to be said about poverty, but it was often an incubator of true friendship.

My respect for human beings is based not on the colour of a man’s skin nor authority he may wield, but purely on merit.

Those South Africans who berate me for being loyal to our friends, literally they can go and throw themselves into a pool. I am not going to betray the trust of those who helped us.

You encourage people by seeing the good in them.

We have introduced a rule of law into many sections of our public life.