Nelson Mandela has been a beloved icon of peace and justice for decades. His thought-provoking quotations are a source of inspiration and positivity to millions around the world.

His wise words have captivated hearts and changed minds, providing cultural and political education in an enlightening way. Mandela’s philosophy on life serves as proof that one person truly can make a difference in the world – his life has changed society in profound ways.

In this article, we have collected 97 iconic Nelson Mandela quotes that offer guidance, hope, and courage to those seeking positive change across all nations.

97 Famous & Inspirational Quotes By Nelson Mandela (Madiba)

  1. One cannot be prepared for something while secretly believing it will not happen.
  2. Difficulties break some men but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end.
  3. Lead from the back – and let others believe they are in front.
  4. One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was that until I changed myself, I could not change others.
  5. The struggle is my life. I will continue fighting for freedom until the end of my days.
  6. It is in your hands, to make a better world for all who live in it.
  7. When people are determined they can overcome anything.
  8. After climbing a great hill. One only finds that there are many more hills to climb.
  9. Of course, the task will not be easy. But not to do this would be a crime against humanity, against which I ask all humanity now to rise up.
  10. Do not look the other way; do not hesitate. Recognize that the world is hungry for action, not words. Act with courage and vision.
  11. I never lose. I either win or learn.
  12. I am not less life-loving than you are. But I cannot sell my birthright, nor am I prepared to sell the birthright of the people to be free. 
  13. What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived; it is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.
  14. A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.
  15. Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.
  16. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
  17. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.
  18. Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice.
  19. The power of education extends beyond the development of skills we need for economic success. It can contribute to nation-building and reconciliation.
  20. A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.
  21. Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.
  22. Young people must take it upon themselves to ensure that they receive the highest education possible so that they can represent us well in the future as future leaders.
  23. Without language, one cannot talk to people and understand them; one cannot share their hopes and aspirations, grasp their history, appreciate their poetry, or savor their songs.
  24. Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.
  25. No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated.
  26. For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
  27. We owe our children – the most vulnerable citizens in any society – a life free from violence and fear.
  28. It is not beyond our power to create a world in which all children have access to a good education. Those who do not believe this have small imaginations.
  29. A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.
  30. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others
  31. There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.
  32. Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening.
  33. Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.
  34. If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.
  35. If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.
  36. There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.
  37. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
  38. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.
  39. Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
  40. Your playing small does not serve the world. Who are you not to be great?
  41. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.
  42. Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.
  43. I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles.
  44. I am confident that nobody… not in a thousand years, will delay the accomplishment of our shared goals.
  45. Fools multiply when wise men are silent.
  46. You can start changing our world for the better daily, no matter how small the action.
  47. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
  48. Many people in this country have paid the price before me and many will pay the price after me.
  49. There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.
  50. The greatest glory in living is not in falling, but in rising every time we fall.
  51. I am not a saint unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.
  52. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom.
  53. Democracy meant all men were to be heard, and a decision was taken together as a people. Majority rule was a foreign notion. A minority was not to be crushed by a majority.
  54. Money won’t create success, the freedom to make it will.
  55. Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings.
  56. There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.
  57. When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.
  58. It is in the character of growth that we should learn from both pleasant and unpleasant experiences.
  59. If you want the cooperation of humans around you, you must make them feel they are important, and you do that by being genuine and humble.
  60. As I have said, the first thing is, to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself.
  61. Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace.
  62. People respond in accordance with how you treat them.
  63. Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation.
  64. When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.
  65. Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.
  66. It is in your hands, to make a better world for all who live in it.
  67. I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.
  68. It always seems impossible, until it is done.
  69. What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.
  70. May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.
  71. It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails.
  72. As I have said, the first thing is, to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself… Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, honesty, and humility.
  73. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
  74. I have always believed exercise is a key not only to physical health but to peace of mind.
  75. There is no passion to be found playing small in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.
  76. Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.
  77. We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.
  78. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but by its lowest ones.
  79. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.
  80. You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution.
  81. Like the gardener, a leader must take responsibility for what he cultivates; he must mind his work, try to repel enemies, preserve what can be preserved, and eliminate what cannot succeed.
  82. Thus shall we live, because we will have created a society that recognizes that all people are born equal, with each entitled in equal measure to life, liberty, prosperity, human rights, and good governance.
  83. There are times when a leader must move out ahead of the flock, go off in a new direction, confident that he is leading his people the right way.
  84. As long as poverty, injustice, and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.
  85. Remember that hope is a powerful weapon even when all else is lost.
  86. It’s a good thing to help a friend whenever you can, but individual acts of hospitality are not the answer. Those who want to wipe out poverty from the face of the earth must use other weapons, weapons other than kindness.
  87. I am convinced that floods of personal disaster can never drown a determined revolutionary nor can the cumulus of misery that accompanies tragedy suffocate him.
  88. Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
  89. A good pen can also remind us of the happiest moments in our lives, and bring noble ideas into our dens, our blood & our souls. It can turn tragedy into hope & victory.
  90. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.
  91. There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to helping others without expecting anything in return.
  92. There are few misfortunes in this world that you cannot turn into a personal triumph if you have the iron will and the necessary skill.
  93. Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.
  94. I have never cared very much for personal prizes. A person does not become a freedom fighter in the hope of winning awards.
  95. I had no epiphany, no singular revelation, no moment of truth, but a steady accumulation of a thousand slights, a thousand indignities, and a thousand unremembered moments produced in me an anger, a rebelliousness, a desire to fight the system that imprisoned my people. There was no particular day on which I said, Henceforth I will devote myself to the liberation of my people; instead, I simply found myself doing so, and could not do otherwise.
  96. Although I am a gregarious person, I love solitude even more.
  97. I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances.

As Nelson Mandela said himself, I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying. Despite his flaws and mistakes, he remained resolute in the face of adversity, leading to powerful changes during the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.

Each of the quotes about Nelson Mandela shows not only his perseverance of spirit but also his commitment to an ideal of justice for all. Despite criticism and obstacles, Nelson Mandela remained undeterred in his dedication to making South Africa a more equitable and inclusive society.

His heartfelt words and captivating charisma were icons that inspired many people to take practical steps toward social change. With 100 years since his birth, we can look back at this man’s impact on the world with admiration and gratitude.