Commitment Quote by Barack Obama

Mandela was a guy who didn't come in and just eviscerate the existing institutions. He sought to co-opt them. He brought white South Africans…

— Ben Rhodes

As a world leader who refused to accept injustice, Nelson Mandela's courage helped change our entire world

— Salil Shetty

“When describing why the African National Congress took the fateful decision to give up on nonviolence and take up arms, Mandela writes that they…

— Nelson Mandela

Mandela's political evolution was gradual.

— William Finnegan

In my view, it was no accident that Nelson Mandela was chosen by God to lead the people of South Africa. There are very…

— Bernice King

There's people on the left who say, the ballot box is a waste of time. Forget them. When Mandela voted for the first time…

— Tony Benn

Mandela was chosen as a symbol of the South African struggle, and he did that great. But I wasn't just happy for him. I…

— Hugh Masekela

Mandela has played a crucial part in history. He's done some extraordinary things, not only for his country but also for the whole world.

— Zinedine Zidane

“Most important of all, Mandela stated that the way to a negotiated solution lay in a simple-sounding formula: reconciling white fears with black aspirations.”

— John Carlin

Mandela did go to prison, and he went in there as a burning revolutionary. But look what came out. Mandela let us down.

— Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

When [Nelson Mandela] was in prison I admired him for his moral strength... Of his period in power I can see few results. Apartheid…

— Mengistu Haile Mariam

Nelson Mandela was a terrorist. And then he wins the world peace prize and becomes president of South Africa. That's how change happens. It's…

— Tony Benn