As a leader... I have always endeavored to listen to what each and every person in a discussion had to say before venturing my own opinion. Oftentimes, my own opinion will simply represent a consensus of what I heard in the discussion. I always remember the axiom; a leader is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.

Nelson Mandela

Categorized in : Leader Shepherds Nimble

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.

Nelson Mandela

inspirational love life

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.

Nelson Mandela

courage inspiring inspirational

There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.

Nelson Mandela

energy helping-others giving

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 mineworker 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.

Nelson Mandela

daughter success children

Fools multiply when wise men are silent.

Nelson Mandela

fool wise men

Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.

Nelson Mandela

overcoming justice men

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

Nelson Mandela

down-and judging inspiring

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.

Nelson Mandela

generosity differences leadership

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.

Nelson Mandela

important humble want

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

Nelson Mandela

change inspiring inspirational

Freedom can never be taken for granted. Each generation must safeguard it and extend it. Your parents and elders sacrificed much so that you should have freedom without suffering what they did. Use this precious right to ensure that the darkness of the past never returns.

Nelson Mandela

taken should-have past

After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.

Nelson Mandela

inspiring motivational inspirational

A winner is a dreamer who never gives up

Nelson Mandela

giving-up courage motivational

In judging our progress as individuals we tend to concentrate on external factors such as one's social position, influence and popularity, wealth and standard of education... But internal factors may be even more crucial in assessing one's development as a human being. Honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, pure generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve others - qualities which are within easy reach of every soul - are the foundation of one's spiritual life.

Nelson Mandela

family love life

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

Nelson Mandela

passionate independent success

Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening.

Nelson Mandela

live-life morning happiness

It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.

Nelson Mandela

optimistic inspirational hands

Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.

Nelson Mandela

powerful weapons soul

It is so easy to break down and destroy.

Nelson Mandela

down-and hero easy

One of the most difficult things is not to change society - but to change yourself.

Nelson Mandela

change love life