It is wise to persuade people to do things and make them think it was their own idea.

I am confident that nobody... will accuse me of selfishness if I ask to spend time, while I am still in good health, with my family, my friends and also with myself.

It is not our diversity which divides us; it is not our ethnicity, or religion or culture that divides us. Since we have achieved our freedom, there can only be one division amongst us: between those who cherish democracy and those who do not.

The time has come to accept in our hearts and minds that with freedom comes responsibility.

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.

When the water starts boiling it is foolish to turn off the heat.

There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere.