"I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
Nelson Mandela (April 20th, 1964)
A man
ReplyDeleteA real man
Ps thought you may like my Rhyl comment tonight x
One of the greats. And more importantly, recognised as great in his own time.
ReplyDeleteThe world is better off for having Nelson Mandela. It is our loss that he is gone.
ReplyDeleteTruly amazing person.
ReplyDeleteOMG ~ I missed that news this morning.
ReplyDeleteHe was probably the most important person to have lived in the last century. He achieved so much. I hope the world continues to build on his foundations.
ReplyDeleteJOHN GRAY, KATHERINE, RED, LIBBY, CAROL & MORNING AJ - Much healthy cynicism generally surrounds political leaders. We don't entirely trust them and we suspect their motives. But Nelson Mandela was above all of that. At once he was a portrait of humility, kindness and good humour as well as a giant amongst men with vision, intellect and courage. We shall not see his like again.
ReplyDeleteI agree - we may glorify many political leaders as being true statesmen and visionaries etc, but I think the actual number who really deserve our gushing praise could probably be counted on the fingers of one hand - and maybe not a full-fingered hand at that. Mandela is number one.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to live to be a thousand I can't imagine achieving a hundredth of what he managed. Among all his accomplishments I find one of the most impressive was knowing when to take a backseat. The second is that he has managed to drive our royals out of the Telegraph for a day.
ReplyDeleteYou know that for various reasons I am an old cynic but one thing he said is undeniable,
ReplyDelete"No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion."
He said many true things that will percolate through the years ahead.
Delete.....and he left us a legacy of hundreds of wonderful quotes too.
ReplyDelete"Sometimes, I feel like one who is on the sidelines, who has missed life itself." - Nelson Mandela
DeleteMerveilleux homme qui m'a fait rêver d'un monde meilleur, qui a réussi sa mission, celle qu'il s'était attribuée !
ReplyDeleteJoli post- Cath