The Quotes canon
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Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Freedom3 quotes
Only free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts. — Nelson Mandela · 1985I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else's freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken away from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity. — Nelson Mandela · 1994You will never be free until we are free. — Desmond Tutu · 1999Interconnectedness of all people3 quotes
I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else's freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken away from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity. — Nelson Mandela · 1994A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished when others are tortured or oppressed, or treated as if they were less than who they are. — Desmond Tutu · 2000You will never be free until we are free. — Desmond Tutu · 1999Anti-colonialism2 quotes
During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in har¬ mony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. — Nelson Mandela · 1964The liberal must understand that the days of the Noble Savage are gone; that the blacks do not need a go-between in this struggle for their own emancipation. No true liberal should feel any resentment at the growth of black consciousness. Rather, all true liberals should realize that the place for their fight for justice is within their white society. — Steve Biko · 1970Apartheid2 quotes
Only free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts. — Nelson Mandela · 1985Out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud...Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another. — Nelson Mandela · 1994Equality2 quotes
I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of human rights. — Desmond Tutu · 1985During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in har¬ mony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. — Nelson Mandela · 1964Liberation2 quotes
The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. — Steve Biko · 1971You will never be free until we are free. — Desmond Tutu · 1999Loving others2 quotes
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 · 1994A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished when others are tortured or oppressed, or treated as if they were less than who they are. — Desmond Tutu · 2000Political reconciliation2 quotes
To make peace with an enemy one must work with that enemy, and that enemy becomes one's partner. — Nelson Mandela · 1995True reconciliation does not consist in merely forgetting the past. — Nelson Mandela · 1996Activism1 quote
During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in har¬ mony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. — Nelson Mandela · 1964Anti-imperialism1 quote
During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in har¬ mony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. — Nelson Mandela · 1964Black freedom struggle1 quote
The liberal must understand that the days of the Noble Savage are gone; that the blacks do not need a go-between in this struggle for their own emancipation. No true liberal should feel any resentment at the growth of black consciousness. Rather, all true liberals should realize that the place for their fight for justice is within their white society. — Steve Biko · 1970Certainty1 quote
Human beings are perhaps never more frightening than when they are convinced beyond doubt that they are right. — Laurens van der Post · 1958Education1 quote
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 · 1994Empathy1 quote
It is through weakness and vulnerability that most of us learn empathy and compassion and discover our soul. — Desmond Tutu · 2004Enemies1 quote
To make peace with an enemy one must work with that enemy, and that enemy becomes one's partner. — Nelson Mandela · 1995Erroneous beliefs1 quote
Out of a few misunderstandings with reality we construct beliefs and hopes, and we live on these crusts, which we call bread, just like poor children who play at being happy. — Fernando Pessoa · 1982Fate vs. free will1 quote
The only freedom the gods grant us
Is this: to submit
Of our own free will to their sovereignty
We should do just that,
Since only in the illusion of freedom
Does freedom exist. — Fernando Pessoa · 1914Forgiveness1 quote
True reconciliation does not consist in merely forgetting the past. — Nelson Mandela · 1996Free will1 quote
The only freedom the gods grant us
Is this: to submit
Of our own free will to their sovereignty
We should do just that,
Since only in the illusion of freedom
Does freedom exist. — Fernando Pessoa · 1914Generosity1 quote
The Dead Sea in the Middle East receives freshwater, but it has no outlet, so it doesn't pass the water out. It receives beautiful water from the rivers, and the water goes dank. I mean, it just goes bad. And that's why it is the Dead Sea. It receives and does not give. In the end, generosity is the best way of becoming more, more, and more joyful. — Desmond Tutu · 2016God and man1 quote
The only freedom the gods grant us
Is this: to submit
Of our own free will to their sovereignty
We should do just that,
Since only in the illusion of freedom
Does freedom exist. — Fernando Pessoa · 1914Hate1 quote
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 · 1994Human rights1 quote
I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of human rights. — Desmond Tutu · 1985Letting go of the past1 quote
Having looked the beast of the past in the eye, having asked and received forgiveness and having made amends, let us shut the door on the past-not in order to forget it but in order not to allow it to imprison us. — Desmond Tutu · 1998Literature1 quote
Literature is the most agreeable way of ignoring life. — Fernando Pessoa · 1935Love1 quote
Love is two people mutually feeding each other, not one living on the soul of the other like a ghoul. — Bessie Head · 1973Mothers and sons1 quote
There was never a great man who had not a great mother. — Olive Schreiner · 1883Moving forward1 quote
Having looked the beast of the past in the eye, having asked and received forgiveness and having made amends, let us shut the door on the past-not in order to forget it but in order not to allow it to imprison us. — Desmond Tutu · 1998Nature of freedom1 quote
I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else's freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken away from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity. — Nelson Mandela · 1994Nature of love1 quote
Love is two people mutually feeding each other, not one living on the soul of the other like a ghoul. — Bessie Head · 1973