--- title: "4 Being honest Quotes By Nelson Mandela" description: "4 Being honest quotes by Nelson Mandela. Plus more from Nelson Mandela and more Being honest sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/nelson-mandela-248_be-honest-with-yours_as-i-have-said-the-first-thing-is-to-be_476595.jpg" --- > [As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/as-i-have-said-the-first-thing-is-to-be-honest-with-yourself-you-can/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/nelson-mandela-248_be-honest-with-yours_as-i-have-said-the-first-thing-is-to-be_476595.jpg) > [Since the dawn of history, mankind has honoured and respected brave and honest people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/since-the-dawn-of-history-mankind-has-honoured-and-respected-brave/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/nelson-mandela-248_being-honest_since-the-dawn-of-history-mankind-has-ho_1340604.jpg) > [Honour belongs to those who never forsake the truth even when things seem dark and grim, who try over and over again,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/honour-belongs-to-those-who-never-forsake-the-truth-even-when-things/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/nelson-mandela-248_being-honest_honour-belongs-to-those-who-never-forsak_2711084.jpg) > [In judging our progress as individuals we tend to concentrate on external factors such as one's social position, influence and popularity, wealth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/in-judging-our-progress-as-individuals-we-tend-to-concentrate-on/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/nelson-mandela-248_absence_in-judging-our-progress-as-individuals-w_2858259.jpg) ## Other authors on Being honest - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b008/author-donald-trump-30060.jpg) Donald Trump 18 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/donald-trump/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b021/author-rush-limbaugh-81741.jpg) Rush Limbaugh 12 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/rush-limbaugh/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b017/author-michael-jackson-67189.jpg) Michael Jackson 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/michael-jackson/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b018/author-neil-gaiman-70689.jpg) Neil Gaiman 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/neil-gaiman/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b009/author-ellen-degeneres-32701.jpg) Ellen DeGeneres 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/ellen-degeneres/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b006/author-charlie-kaufman-22749.jpg) Charlie Kaufman 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/charlie-kaufman/) ## More by Nelson Mandela > [We must work together to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth, opportunity and power in our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-must-work-together-to-ensure-the-equitable-distribution-of-wealth/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Especially for those of us who lived in single cells, you had the time to sit down and think, and we discovered that sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/especially-for-those-of-us-who-lived-in-single-cells-you-had-the-time/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [If you don't allow people to contribute, to offer their point of view, or to criticize what has been put before them, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/if-you-don-t-allow-people-to-contribute-to-offer-their-point-of-view/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/courageous-people-do-not-fear-forgiving-for-the-sake-of-peace/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [As a leader... I have always endeavored to listen to what each and every person in a discussion had to say before venturing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/as-a-leader-i-have-always-endeavored-to-listen-to-what-each-and-every/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Some of the mission groups that have been responsible for our education have not been part of the government. In fact, they acted contrary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/some-of-the-mission-groups-that-have-been-responsible-for-our/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“I believed that I would become a counsellor to the Thembu king,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-believed-that-i-would-become-a-counsellor-to-the-thembu-king/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [What he means by this is that instead of saying you'll "try", you need to "do". And as we let our light shine, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/what-he-means-by-this-is-that-instead-of-saying-you-ll-try-you-need/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-learned-that-courage-was-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-the-triumph/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [We need to exert ourselves that much more, and break out of the vicious cycle of dependence imposed on us by the financially powerful:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-need-to-exert-ourselves-that-much-more-and-break-out-of-the/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“Prison is a still point in a turning world, and it is very easy to remain in the same place in jail while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/prison-is-a-still-point-in-a-turning-world-and-it-is-very-easy-to/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/a-fundamental-concern-for-others-in-our-individual-and-community/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I am aware of what the position is in the United States of America. If somebody gives to charity, then he gets a tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-am-aware-of-what-the-position-is-in-the-united-states-of-america-if/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [It is our duty to give support to the brother leader ... especially in regards to the sanctions which are not hitting just him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-is-our-duty-to-give-support-to-the-brother-leader-especially-in/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [It was during those long and lonely years that my hunger for the freedom of our own people became a hunger for the freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-was-during-those-long-and-lonely-years-that-my-hunger-for-the/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/nelson-mandela/#itemlist", "name": "4 Being honest Quotes By Nelson Mandela", "numberOfItems": 4, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself... Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nelson Mandela" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/as-i-have-said-the-first-thing-is-to-be-honest-with-yourself-you-can/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/nelson-mandela-248_be-honest-with-yours_as-i-have-said-the-first-thing-is-to-be_476595.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/nelson-mandela-248_be-honest-with-yours_as-i-have-said-the-first-thing-is-to-be_476595.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/nelson-mandela-248_be-honest-with-yours_as-i-have-said-the-first-thing-is-to-be_476595.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if…” — Nelson Mandela", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Since the dawn of history, mankind has honoured and respected brave and honest people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nelson Mandela" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/since-the-dawn-of-history-mankind-has-honoured-and-respected-brave/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/nelson-mandela-248_being-honest_since-the-dawn-of-history-mankind-has-ho_1340604.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/nelson-mandela-248_being-honest_since-the-dawn-of-history-mankind-has-ho_1340604.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/nelson-mandela-248_being-honest_since-the-dawn-of-history-mankind-has-ho_1340604.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Since the dawn of history, mankind has honoured and respected brave and honest people.” — Nelson Mandela", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Honour belongs to those who never forsake the truth even when things seem dark and grim, who try over and over again, who are never discouraged by insults, humiliation and even defeat.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nelson Mandela" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/honour-belongs-to-those-who-never-forsake-the-truth-even-when-things/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/nelson-mandela-248_being-honest_honour-belongs-to-those-who-never-forsak_2711084.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/nelson-mandela-248_being-honest_honour-belongs-to-those-who-never-forsak_2711084.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/nelson-mandela-248_being-honest_honour-belongs-to-those-who-never-forsak_2711084.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Honour belongs to those who never forsake the truth even when things seem dark and grim, who try over and…” — Nelson Mandela", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In judging our progress as individuals we tend to concentrate on external factors such as one's social position, influence and popularity, wealth and standard of education... But internal factors may be even more crucial in assessing one's development as a human being. Honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, pure generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve others - qualities which are within easy reach of every soul - are the foundation of one's spiritual life", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nelson Mandela" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/in-judging-our-progress-as-individuals-we-tend-to-concentrate-on/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/nelson-mandela-248_absence_in-judging-our-progress-as-individuals-w_2858259.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/nelson-mandela-248_absence_in-judging-our-progress-as-individuals-w_2858259.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/nelson-mandela-248_absence_in-judging-our-progress-as-individuals-w_2858259.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In judging our progress as individuals we tend to concentrate on external factors such as one's social…” — Nelson Mandela", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/nelson-mandela/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/nelson-mandela/", "name": "Being honest Quotes by Nelson Mandela", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/nelson-mandela/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/nelson-mandela-248_be-honest-with-yours_as-i-have-said-the-first-thing-is-to-be_476595.jpg" }, "description": "4 Being honest quotes by Nelson Mandela. Plus more from Nelson Mandela and more Being honest sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/nelson-mandela/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/nelson-mandela/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Being Honest", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Nelson Mandela", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/nelson-mandela/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```