Like all Xhosa children, I acquired knowledge mainly through observation. We were meant to learn through imitation and emulation, not through questions. When I first visited the homes of whites, I was often dumbfounded by the number and nature of questions that children asked of their parents-and their parents' unfailing willingness to answer them. In my household, questions were considered a nuisance; adults imparted information as they considered necessary.
Nelson MandelaResentment is like a glass of poison that a man drinks; then he sits down and waits for his enemy to die.
Nelson MandelaWe can build a society grounded on friendship and our common humanity - a society founded on tolerance. That is the only road open to us.
Nelson MandelaBut the human body has an enormous capacity for adjusting to trying circumstances. I have found that one can bear the unbearable if one can keep one's spirits strong even when one's body is being tested. Strong convictions are the secret of surviving deprivation; your spirit can be full even when your stomach is empty.
Nelson Mandela