Long Walk To Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela

I have always endeavoured to listen to what each and every person in a discussion had to say before venturing my own opinion.

‘the oppressor defines the nature of the struggle.’

In letting it go, Mandela kept his mind and his heart.

Like all Xhosa children, I acquired knowledge mainly through observation. We were meant to learn through imitation and emulation, not through questions.

‘I realized that they could take everything from me except my mind and my heart. They could not take those things. Those things I still had control over. And I decided not to give them away.’

the oppressor is also a prisoner of prejudice and narrow-mindedness,

reconciling with the people who had marshaled the horrible forces of apartheid, and sharing power with them.

‘To make peace with an enemy one must work with that enemy, and that enemy becomes one’s partner.’

‘Yes, I am your President. And if you work very hard in school and you learn a lot and you are nice to everybody, you too could grow up to be President of South Africa.’