--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nelson Mandela said to me that he thinks…" description: "\"Nelson Mandela said to me that he thinks he's not getting into Heaven, I said, if you don't get in, I am screwed.\" — Charlize Theron" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b9/charlize-theron-1430_mandela_nelson-mandela-said-to-me-that-he-thinks_2893265.jpg" --- # Nelson Mandela said to me that he thinks he's not getting… ![“Nelson Mandela said to me that he thinks he's not getting into Heaven, I said, if you don't get in, I am screwed.” quote by Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b9/charlize-theron-1430_mandela_nelson-mandela-said-to-me-that-he-thinks_2893265.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b9/charlize-theron-1430_mandela_nelson-mandela-said-to-me-that-he-thinks_2893265.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b9/charlize-theron-1430_mandela_nelson-mandela-said-to-me-that-he-thinks_2893265.jpg) > “Nelson Mandela said to me that he thinks he's not getting into Heaven, I said, if you don't get in, I am screwed.” [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Uses humor to convey that both heaven and hell are uncertain, highlighting human anxiety about afterlife. **In simple terms:** Uncertainty about afterlife creates anxiety. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty with humor. Themes existence humor anxiety afterlife Mood lighthearted thoughtful Type philosophical humorous When to use this quote - personal reflection - spiritual discussions - creative writing Key Concepts theology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How does humor affect afterlife fears? - What comforts you about uncertainty? A Different Perspective May trivialize deep beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Getting Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-heaven-1089247/) [Heaven Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-said-1082159/) [Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mandela/) [Mandela Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mandela-said-1086394/) [Nelson mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nelson-mandela/) ## Related quotes > [“Nelson Mandela once said, ‘If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/nelson-mandela-once-said-if-you-talk-to-a-man-in-a-language-he/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [Nelson Mandela said: 'It always seems impossible until it's done.' Peace is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bonifaz/nelson-mandela-said-it-always-seems-impossible-until-it-s-done-peace/) [John Bonifaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bonifaz/) > [“Nelson Mandela said the brave man is not the one who feels fear but the one who conquers it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/nelson-mandela-said-the-brave-man-is-not-the-one-who-feels-fear-but/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [Nelson Mandela once said "I can't help it if the ladies take note of me; I'm not going to protest."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/nelson-mandela-once-said-i-can-t-help-it-if-the-ladies-take-note-of/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [“Nelson Mandela said it this way, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marco/nelson-mandela-said-it-this-way-if-you-talk-to-a-man-in-a-language-he/) [Christopher Marco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marco/) > [Many say that a man comes along with the moral courage of Nelson Mandela once in a lifetime. He was an extraordinary man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/many-say-that-a-man-comes-along-with-the-moral-courage-of-nelson/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [“Mandela alikuwa hodari ndiyo maana akapelekwa jela. Alikuwa mvumilivu ndiyo maana akakaa jela kwa miaka ishirini na saba. Alivyotoka akawa kiongozi bora wa Afrika…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mandela-alikuwa-hodari-ndiyo-maana-akapelekwa-jela-alikuwa-mvumilivu/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > ['Selfie' is the word du jour, and it became cause celebre at Nelson Mandela's funeral when the Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt took a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/selfie-is-the-word-du-jour-and-it-became-cause-celebre-at-nelson/) [Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/) > [Nelson Mandela is a leader Barack Obama should try to emulate... He could start by spending 27 years in prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-imus/nelson-mandela-is-a-leader-barack-obama-should-try-to-emulate-he/) [Don Imus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-imus/) > [In Durban, where I was born and grew up, and all over Africa, Nelson Mandela was a hero! Now he is a hero to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/in-durban-where-i-was-born-and-grew-up-and-all-over-africa-nelson/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [The famous passage from her book is often erroneously attributed to the inaugural address of Nelson Mandela. About the misattribution Williamson said, "Several years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-famous-passage-from-her-book-is-often-erroneously-attributed-to/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Even here in America, we felt the cool, refreshing breeze of freedom when Nelson Mandela took the seat of Presidency in his country where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/even-here-in-america-we-felt-the-cool-refreshing-breeze-of-freedom/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [There were three people I always wanted to meet: Michael Jackson, Muhammad Ali, and Nelson Mandela.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-prince-boateng/there-were-three-people-i-always-wanted-to-meet-michael-jackson/) [Kevin-Prince Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-prince-boateng/) > [“Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gallegos-borresen/our-human-compassion-binds-us-the-one-to-the-other-not-in-pity-or/) [Michael Gallegos Borresen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gallegos-borresen/) > [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) ## More by Charlize Theron > [I have been working a lot, and I like it. And you know, it's hard for me not to. I guess I've been working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-have-been-working-a-lot-and-i-like-it-and-you-know-it-s-hard-for-me/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I met a woman in Albuquerque and she came and hung out with me in the trailer. It was really just more to kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-met-a-woman-in-albuquerque-and-she-came-and-hung-out-with-me-in-the/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [ I love the idea of longevity in this career. But \[producing\] is not about, "Let me do this because this might happen 20 years… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-love-the-idea-of-longevity-in-this-career-but-producing-is-not/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [It's in the eyes, mostly. Don't listen just to the other actor's lines. Look at - and listen to - their eyes. That's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/it-s-in-the-eyes-mostly-don-t-listen-just-to-the-other-actor-s-lines/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I don't try to kind of go for the overly sympathetic. I don't really like sympathy; I don't like it for myself. Sometimes sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-don-t-try-to-kind-of-go-for-the-overly-sympathetic-i-don-t-really/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [Looks alone won’t get you that far. It may get you in the door, but there’s always somebody younger, somebody prettier. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/looks-alone-won-t-get-you-that-far-it-may-get-you-in-the-door-but/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I hate actors who come and quote Nietzsche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-hate-actors-who-come-and-quote-nietzsche/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [Of course you want your son, your children, to be proud of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/of-course-you-want-your-son-your-children-to-be-proud-of-you/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I don't really watch a lot of television, and I would watch mindless, mindless television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-don-t-really-watch-a-lot-of-television-and-i-would-watch-mindless/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [My thoughts and love go out to the Mandela family. Rest in peace Madiba. You will be missed, but your impact on this world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/my-thoughts-and-love-go-out-to-the-mandela-family-rest-in-peace/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I think today women are very scared to celebrate themselves, because then they just get labeled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-think-today-women-are-very-scared-to-celebrate-themselves-because/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I don't believe in charmed lives. I think that tragedy is part of the lesson you learn to lift yourself up, to pick yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-don-t-believe-in-charmed-lives-i-think-that-tragedy-is-part-of-the/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I don't want to be put on a pedestal. I don't want to be anything other than what we are. I want to just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-don-t-want-to-be-put-on-a-pedestal-i-don-t-want-to-be-anything/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I think of myself as a highly sexual creature, I have to use that, I like it.. I didn't grow up with a mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-think-of-myself-as-a-highly-sexual-creature-i-have-to-use-that-i/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I know what I'm capable of wearing in one lifetime and what I really need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-know-what-i-m-capable-of-wearing-in-one-lifetime-and-what-i-really/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) [Explore all 242 Charlize Theron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) ## More Mandela quotes > [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gallegos-borresen/our-human-compassion-binds-us-the-one-to-the-other-not-in-pity-or/) [Michael Gallegos Borresen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gallegos-borresen/) > [Mandela's message will never die. It will continue to inspire freedom fighters and give confidence to people who defend just causes and universal rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/mandela-s-message-will-never-die-it-will-continue-to-inspire-freedom/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zinedine-zidane/mandela-has-played-a-crucial-part-in-history-he-s-done-some/) [Zinedine Zidane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zinedine-zidane/) > [There were three people I always wanted to meet: Michael Jackson, Muhammad Ali, and Nelson Mandela.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-prince-boateng/there-were-three-people-i-always-wanted-to-meet-michael-jackson/) [Kevin-Prince Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-prince-boateng/) > [Mandela did go to prison, and he went in there as a burning revolutionary. But look what came out. Mandela let us down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-madikizela-mandela/mandela-did-go-to-prison-and-he-went-in-there-as-a-burning/) [Winnie Madikizela-Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-madikizela-mandela/) > [Even here in America, we felt the cool, refreshing breeze of freedom when Nelson Mandela took the seat of Presidency in his country where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/even-here-in-america-we-felt-the-cool-refreshing-breeze-of-freedom/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The famous passage from her book is often erroneously attributed to the inaugural address of Nelson Mandela. About the misattribution Williamson said, "Several years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-famous-passage-from-her-book-is-often-erroneously-attributed-to/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [In Durban, where I was born and grew up, and all over Africa, Nelson Mandela was a hero! Now he is a hero to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/in-durban-where-i-was-born-and-grew-up-and-all-over-africa-nelson/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [Nelson Mandela is a leader Barack Obama should try to emulate... He could start by spending 27 years in prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-imus/nelson-mandela-is-a-leader-barack-obama-should-try-to-emulate-he/) [Don Imus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-imus/) > ['Selfie' is the word du jour, and it became cause celebre at Nelson Mandela's funeral when the Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt took a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/selfie-is-the-word-du-jour-and-it-became-cause-celebre-at-nelson/) [Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/) > [My thoughts and love go out to the Mandela family. Rest in peace Madiba. You will be missed, but your impact on this world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/my-thoughts-and-love-go-out-to-the-mandela-family-rest-in-peace/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I'm inspired by people like Nelson Mandela. Can you imagine - you know how racist America was back then - imagine how racism was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-m-inspired-by-people-like-nelson-mandela-can-you-imagine-you-know/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Mandela's heroism is the heroism of a man who suffered so badly for what he thought of as freedom. And yet when he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bono/mandela-s-heroism-is-the-heroism-of-a-man-who-suffered-so-badly-for/) [Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bono/) > [“Mandela alikuwa hodari ndiyo maana akapelekwa jela. Alikuwa mvumilivu ndiyo maana akakaa jela kwa miaka ishirini na saba. Alivyotoka akawa kiongozi bora wa Afrika…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mandela-alikuwa-hodari-ndiyo-maana-akapelekwa-jela-alikuwa-mvumilivu/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) [Browse all 235 Mandela quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mandela/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nelson Mandela said to me that he thinks he's not getting into Heaven, I said, if you don't get in, I am screwed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charlize Theron" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/nelson-mandela-said-to-me-that-he-thinks-he-s-not-getting-into-heaven/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Mandela" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/nelson-mandela-said-to-me-that-he-thinks-he-s-not-getting-into-heaven/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b9/charlize-theron-1430_mandela_nelson-mandela-said-to-me-that-he-thinks_2893265.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b9/charlize-theron-1430_mandela_nelson-mandela-said-to-me-that-he-thinks_2893265.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b9/charlize-theron-1430_mandela_nelson-mandela-said-to-me-that-he-thinks_2893265.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nelson Mandela said to me that he thinks he's not getting into Heaven, I said, if you don't get in, I am…” — Charlize Theron", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "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": "Charlize Theron", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nelson Mandela said to me that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/nelson-mandela-said-to-me-that-he-thinks-he-s-not-getting-into-heaven/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/nelson-mandela-said-to-me-that-he-thinks-he-s-not-getting-into-heaven/#breadcrumb" }, { "@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 } } ] } ```