Nelson Mandela Quotes

Oh how hard it is to die and leave one’s Country no better than if one had never lived for it.

Since it has pleased Providence to place me in this station, I shall do my utmost to fulfill my duty towards my country; I am very young, and perhaps in many, though not in all things, inexperienced, but I am sure, that very few have more real good will and more real desire to do what is fit and right than I have.

I think service is honorable, and that was always inculcated in me.

If my acceptance of the office of Governor would serve my country, though my administration would be attended with the loss of personal credit and reputation, I would cheerfully undertake it.

To command is to serve, nothing more and nothing less.

If someone as blessed as I am is not willing to clean out the barn, who will?

You shall hear a good account of me or of my death.

Not my power, but the power of the position, a power which could be used to help.

When one man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself.

I don't see myself being special; I just see myself having more responsibilities than the next man. People look to me to do things for them, to have answers.

I pray to be a good servant to God, a father, a husband, a son, a friend, a brother, an uncle, a good neighbor, a good leader to those who look up to me, a good follower to those who are serving God and doing the right thing.

Lest when I am gone you may be at a loss for an epitaph for me, let me give you one - He Fed Fevers.

I haven't written my own epitaph, and I'm not sure I should. Whatever it is, I hope it will be simple, and that it will point people not to me, but to the One I served.

I did once answer the question 'What would you say on your tombstone?' I know what I would say: 'Mario Cuomo, 1932 - dash,' and, 'He tried.' That's it.

I love Winston Churchill; I think he had the grace of coming and the grace of leaving - when things were hard he was there, and when it was time to leave, he left.

Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires but according to our powers.

The best people to have power are the ones who don't want it.

Our message of the day is service does not need a title.

Born poor, but of honored and humble people, I am particularly proud to die poor.

Leadership is a privilege to better the lives of others. It is not an opportunity to satisfy personal greed.

Character is made of duty and love and sympathy, and, above all, of living and working for others.

In the military, I learned that 'leadership' means raising your hand and volunteering for the tough, important assignments.

The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.

I will never work merely to make a reputation for myself, to be popular for appearances rather than for what I am. My task is to lead my country through service.

I have done for my country, and for all mankind, all that I could do, and I now resign my soul, without fear, to my God - my daughter to my country.