Don't raise your voice, improve your argument." _x000D_ _x000D_ [Address at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 November 2004]
Interpretation
Effective communication relies on the strength of your ideas rather than loudness.
This quote emphasizes the importance of forming sound arguments and reasoning instead of resorting to shouting or aggressive behavior to make one's point. It suggests that rational discourse and thoughtful discussion hold more power in persuading others than merely raising one's voice.
In practice
During a debate, use this quote to encourage peers to focus on logical reasoning rather than raising their voices.
The fossil reserves that have already been discovered exceed what can ever be safely used. Yet companies spend half a trillion dollars each year searching for more fuel. They should redirect this money toward developing clean energy solutions
As much as the world has an instinct for evil and is a breeding ground for genocide, holocaust, slavery, racism, war, oppression, and injustice, the world has an even greateer instinct for goodness, rebirth, mercy, beauty, truth, freedom and love.
When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.
Children are a wonderful gift. They have an extraordinary capacity to see into the heart of things and to expose sham and humbug for what they are.
Religion is like a knife: you can either use it to cut bread, or stick in someone's back.
Gaza is going to test who believes in the worth of human beings.
I don't think you should write a book until you tell the absolute truth. You can't do that until you're 85, and I don't want to live that long. I've always prided myself on knowing when to get off, and I hope it works out that way.
A new day is here. Yesterday is a memory. Tomorrow is unknown. Now is the knowing.
You may control a mad elephant; You may shut the mouth of the bear and the tiger; Ride the lion and play with the cobra; By alchemy you may learn your livelihood; You may wander through the universe incognito; Make vassals of the gods; be ever youthful; You may walk in water and live in fire; But control of the mind is better and more difficult.
Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it.
If you don't pay appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than it deserves.
A high station in life is earned by the gallantry with which appalling experiences are survived with grace.
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