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Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 100th Celebration


In celebration and commemoration of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s 100th day of his birth - 18 July 2018,

I humbly share thoughts linked to a few of Mandela’s quotes.

  • Born: July 18, 1918, Mvezo, South Africa

  • Died: December 5, 2013, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, South Africa

As we remember and celebrate Madiba’s Centenary, we think of the examples he set and the thoughts he expressed, which we could explore, and use to empower others.

The value he placed on education and the importance of individuals to take ownership of their education comes through in various quotes:

  • Young people must take it upon themselves to ensure that they receive the highest education possible so that they can represent us well in future as future leaders.

  • Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the 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. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.

  • Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

  • No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated.

He expressed the importance of taking ownership of one’s learning and driving one’s path

  • Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.

  • There are certain precautions you should take to prepare yourself for a fruitful study career. You must brush up your knowledge through systematic reading of literature and newspapers

  • 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.

  • Appearances matter — and remember to smile.

Being able to speak more than one language is of huge benefit to each of us. Mandela demonstrated this by greeting people in their own languages, and deciding on the language to use by hearing the person’s name. He thereby demonstrated not only the knowledge of the language but a knowledge of the culture and the people he was speaking to. Being able to identify the language the person spoken just by hearing the name, demonstrated an interest and knowledge of other people and their cultures. The significance of quotes that relate to that belief are:

  • Without language, one cannot talk to people and understand them; one cannot share their hopes and aspirations, grasp their history, appreciate their poetry, or savour their songs.

  • A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.

  • Discussion sharpens one’s interest in any subject and accordingly inspires reading and corrects errors.

The positive impact of listening to others, sharing ideas and debating views, is seen in:

  • I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles.

Always wanting to know what’s happening, to be up to date

  • Not a day goes by when I don’t read every newspaper I can lay my hands on, wherever I am.

The drive and determination to succeed, is a value we should all strive for, this we see in quotes such as:

  • Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.

  • One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was that until I changed myself, I could not change others.

  • When people are determined they can overcome anything.

  • 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.

  • It always seems impossible until it's done.

As individuals the importance of valuing, respecting and uplifting others, so all can succeed, is expressed in quotes such as:

  • 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.

Being good examples, and striving to do our best, is described in:

  1. We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.

  2. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished

  3. A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.

  4. Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will.

Thank you Madiba for the wise words and the significant example you set for us to follow.

Reference:

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