We owe our children – the most vulnerable citizens in any society – a life free from violence and fear.
Nelson MandelaRead
Each of us is as intimately attached to the soil of this beautiful country as are the famous jacaranda trees of Pretoria and the mimosa trees of the bushveld - a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the strong connection individuals have with their country and its beauty, symbolizing unity and peace.
Nelson Mandela's quote highlights the deep relationship people share with their homeland, comparing this bond to the natural beauty of South Africa's jacaranda and mimosa trees. It suggests that just as these trees are integral to the landscape, so too are the people vital to the identity and harmony of the nation, portraying an ideal vision of a united, peaceful society.
Themes
ConnectionNationPeaceUnityNature
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about national identity, one could use this quote to illustrate the importance of cultural ties.
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.
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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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