We owe our children β the most vulnerable citizens in any society β a life free from violence and fear.
Nelson MandelaRead
When we dehumanise and demonise our opponents, we abandon the possibility of peacefully resolving our differences, and seek to justify violence against them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Dehumanizing our opponents makes peaceful resolution impossible and justifies violence.
Nelson Mandela's quote emphasizes that when we strip our opponents of their humanity and view them as demons, we effectively destroy any chance of resolving our conflicts peacefully. This mindset not only escalates tensions but also provides a rationale for violent actions against those we see as less than human, highlighting the moral responsibility we carry in how we perceive others in conflict scenarios.
Themes
DehumanizationViolenceConflictPeaceHumanity
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate on social justice, this quote could illustrate the dangers of extremist views.
More from Nelson Mandela
All quotes βWhat freedom am I being offered while the organization of the people remains banned? Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts.
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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.
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We signal that good can be achieved amongst human beings who are prepared to trust, prepared to believe in the goodness of people.
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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.
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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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