---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was spine tingling, actually, when you…"
description: "\"It was spine tingling, actually, when you saw how people kept saying, \"Release Nelson Mandela,\" and meaning really, \"Release all of our political priso..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/desmond-tutu-442_mandela_it-was-spine-tingling-actually-when-you_2983134.jpg"
---

#  It was spine tingling, actually, when you saw how people…

![“It was spine tingling, actually, when you saw how people kept saying, &quot;Release Nelson Mandela,&quot; and meaning really, &quot;Release all of our political prisoners.&quot;” quote by Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/desmond-tutu-442_mandela_it-was-spine-tingling-actually-when-you_2983134.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/desmond-tutu-442_mandela_it-was-spine-tingling-actually-when-you_2983134.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/desmond-tutu-442_mandela_it-was-spine-tingling-actually-when-you_2983134.jpg)

> “It was spine tingling, actually, when you saw how people kept saying, "Release Nelson Mandela," and meaning really, "Release all of our political prisoners."”

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Calls for freedom often mask broader demands for justice and human rights.

**In simple terms:** Freedom slogans can hide deeper political aims.

Key Takeaway

Look beyond surface slogans.

Themes

politics justice activism

Mood

critical hopeful

Type

political activist

When to use this quote

- protests
- policy debates
- social movements

Key Concepts

human rights political symbolism

Questions to Reflect On

- What hidden agendas lie behind popular chants?
- How can we ensure true liberation?

A Different Perspective

Slogans may oversimplify complex issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political prisoners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-prisoners/) [Prisoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisoner/)

## Related quotes

> [Look at Nelson Mandela. Why did people want to follow him? He's a lousy speaker. If he hadn't got all the other things, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/look-at-nelson-mandela-why-did-people-want-to-follow-him-he-s-a-lousy/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [It's a blessing that South Africa has a man like Nelson Mandela.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/it-s-a-blessing-that-south-africa-has-a-man-like-nelson-mandela/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Before Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962, he was an angry, relatively young man. He founded the ANC's military wing. When he was released,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/before-nelson-mandela-was-arrested-in-1962-he-was-an-angry-relatively/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Former South Africa President Nelson Mandela announced Tuesday he will begin writing his autobiography. He spent 25 years in prison before being elected to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/argus-hamilton/former-south-africa-president-nelson-mandela-announced-tuesday-he/)

[Argus Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/argus-hamilton/)

> [Nelson Mandela will always be the face of South Africa. The traveler passing through the country will see Mandela's face almost everywhere he looks.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/nelson-mandela-will-always-be-the-face-of-south-africa-the-traveler/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [What an honor it was to step into the shoes of Nelson Mandela and portray a man who defied odds, broke down barriers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/what-an-honor-it-was-to-step-into-the-shoes-of-nelson-mandela-and/)

[Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/)

> [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 can rot in prison until he dies or I die, whichever takes longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-w-botha/nelson-mandela-can-rot-in-prison-until-he-dies-or-i-die-whichever/)

[P. W. Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-w-botha/)

> [Nelson Mandela was an outstanding leader and a mentor for me. I was in South Africa at the time he was released. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-kelly/nelson-mandela-was-an-outstanding-leader-and-a-mentor-for-me-i-was-in/)

[Gail Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-kelly/)

> [Video screenshot Facts and figures from Nelson Mandela's life, set to the trailer from 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.' "Man's goodness is a flame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/video-screenshot-facts-and-figures-from-nelson-mandela-s-life-set-to/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [As a world leader who refused to accept injustice, Nelson Mandela's courage helped change our entire world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salil-shetty/as-a-world-leader-who-refused-to-accept-injustice-nelson-mandela-s/)

Salil Shetty

> [“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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

## More by Desmond Tutu

> [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Freedom and liberty lose out by default because good people are not vigilant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/freedom-and-liberty-lose-out-by-default-because-good-people-are-not/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [We shall be free only together, black and white. We shall survive only together, black and white. We can be human only together, black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-shall-be-free-only-together-black-and-white-we-shall-survive-only/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Many people would be surprised that, in fact, I'm quite shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/many-people-would-be-surprised-that-in-fact-i-m-quite-shy/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Too many people think that reconciliation means you soft-pedal differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/too-many-people-think-that-reconciliation-means-you-soft-pedal/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Our Christian faith is actually very subversive of the conventional notion of success - the notion that what invests a person with worth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/our-christian-faith-is-actually-very-subversive-of-the-conventional/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Every situation of justice is an occasion where someone is being humiliated and they want to restore their dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/every-situation-of-justice-is-an-occasion-where-someone-is-being/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Race should not be used to claim privileges and rights for one group, exclusively, which are denied other different groups. Then that is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/race-should-not-be-used-to-claim-privileges-and-rights-for-one-group/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [People are able to justify immense cruelty and say that it is something that is sanctioned by their faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/people-are-able-to-justify-immense-cruelty-and-say-that-it-is/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [South Africa, so utterly improbably, is a beacon of hope in a dark and troubled world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/south-africa-so-utterly-improbably-is-a-beacon-of-hope-in-a-dark-and/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [I don't often want to speak. I try to be a reasonable person and to be diplomatic, but you go to that place and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-don-t-often-want-to-speak-i-try-to-be-a-reasonable-person-and-to-be/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [“child of God, known by name and whose very hairs are numbered. Praise and adore God and thank him for ever and ever. Amen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/child-of-god-known-by-name-and-whose-very-hairs-are-numbered-praise/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [To remain neutral in situations of injustice is to be complicit in that injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/to-remain-neutral-in-situations-of-injustice-is-to-be-complicit-in/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [It's a fantastic thing that from moment to the next moment if God were to have stopped for a split second we would disintegrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/it-s-a-fantastic-thing-that-from-moment-to-the-next-moment-if-god/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Once lost, trust can only be regained if we are as good as our word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/once-lost-trust-can-only-be-regained-if-we-are-as-good-as-our-word/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

[Explore all 558 Desmond Tutu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

## 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

> [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

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It was spine tingling, actually, when you saw how people kept saying, \"Release Nelson Mandela,\" and meaning really, \"Release all of our political prisoners.\"",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Desmond Tutu"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/it-was-spine-tingling-actually-when-you-saw-how-people-kept-saying/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Mandela"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/it-was-spine-tingling-actually-when-you-saw-how-people-kept-saying/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/desmond-tutu-442_mandela_it-was-spine-tingling-actually-when-you_2983134.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/desmond-tutu-442_mandela_it-was-spine-tingling-actually-when-you_2983134.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c7/desmond-tutu-442_mandela_it-was-spine-tingling-actually-when-you_2983134.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It was spine tingling, actually, when you saw how people kept saying, \"Release Nelson Mandela,\" and meaning…” — Desmond Tutu",
                "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": "Desmond Tutu",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It was spine tingling, actually, when...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/it-was-spine-tingling-actually-when-you-saw-how-people-kept-saying/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/it-was-spine-tingling-actually-when-you-saw-how-people-kept-saying/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
