We owe our children – the most vulnerable citizens in any society – a life free from violence and fear.
Nelson MandelaRead
From the beginning, Mandela and Tambo was besieged with clients. We were not the only African lawyers in South Africa, but we were the only firm of African lawyers. For Africans, we were the firm of first choice and last resort.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the significance of being a trusted choice for a community in need, especially in the context of justice and legal representation.
In this quote, Nelson Mandela reflects on the establishment of the law firm he co-founded with Oliver Tambo, showcasing how it became a pivotal legal resource for African individuals in a society where such representation was scarce. The firm not only served as the first choice for those seeking legal help but also became a critical last resort for those who felt marginalized and without options within the oppressive legal system of apartheid South Africa.
Themes
JusticeRepresentationCommunityLawTrustAdvocacy
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech advocating for civil rights, one might use Mandela's quote to illustrate the critical role of representation.
More from Nelson Mandela
All quotes →What freedom am I being offered while the organization of the people remains banned? Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts.
Nelson MandelaRead
The past is a rich resource on which we can draw in order to make decisions for the future, but it does not dictate our choices. We should look back at the past and select what is good, and leave behind what is bad.
Nelson MandelaRead
We signal that good can be achieved amongst human beings who are prepared to trust, prepared to believe in the goodness of people.
Nelson MandelaRead
After one has been in prison, it is the small things that one appreciates: being able to take a walk whenever one wants, going into a shop and buying a newspaper, speaking or choosing to remain silent. The simple act of being able to control one's person.
Nelson MandelaRead
I dream of the realization of the unity of Africa, whereby its leaders combine in their efforts to solve the problems of this continent. I dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wildernesses.
Nelson MandelaRead
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