--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The relationship between me and President…" description: "\"The relationship between me and President Mandela right at the beginning was not a very well-established relationship. It was based on two meetings.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/f-w-de-klerk-28665_based_the-relationship-between-me-and-presiden_1388447.jpg" --- # The relationship between me and President Mandela right at… ![“The relationship between me and President Mandela right at the beginning was not a very well-established relationship. It was based on two meetings.” quote by F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/f-w-de-klerk-28665_based_the-relationship-between-me-and-presiden_1388447.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/f-w-de-klerk-28665_based_the-relationship-between-me-and-presiden_1388447.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/f-w-de-klerk-28665_based_the-relationship-between-me-and-presiden_1388447.jpg) > “The relationship between me and President Mandela right at the beginning was not a very well-established relationship. It was based on two meetings.” [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early interaction was limited to two brief meetings, lacking depth or trust. **In simple terms:** Their early connection was shallow and brief. Key Takeaway Build deeper relationships through sustained dialogue. Themes politics leadership relationships Mood reflective hopeful Type historical political When to use this quote - negotiations - reconciliation - public appearances Key Concepts trust building historical context Questions to Reflect On - How can brief encounters evolve into lasting partnerships? - What steps foster trust after initial meetings? A Different Perspective Limited time prevented true understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) ## Related quotes > [President Mandela was not a hands-on president at any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/president-mandela-was-not-a-hands-on-president-at-any-time/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [I spent a lot of time with President Mandela supporting his efforts in the peace process in Burundi. The thing that impressed me the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prendergast/i-spent-a-lot-of-time-with-president-mandela-supporting-his-efforts/) [John Prendergast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prendergast/) > [I have always had great respect for former president Mandela. The personal sacrifices he made in order to achieve what was right for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/i-have-always-had-great-respect-for-former-president-mandela-the/) [Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/) > [The first time I was privileged to meet president Mandela was during his visit to Malawi... shortly after he was released from prison. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/the-first-time-i-was-privileged-to-meet-president-mandela-was-during/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [As we mourn President Mandela’s passing we must ask ourselves the fundamental question - what shall we do to respond to the tasks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/as-we-mourn-president-mandela-s-passing-we-must-ask-ourselves-the/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [I make decisions based on my work, not based on meetings with my business managers, who I don't like to meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-robinson/i-make-decisions-based-on-my-work-not-based-on-meetings-with-my/) [Chris Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-robinson/) > [My father established our relationship when I was seven years old. He looked at me and said, “You know, I brought you in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/my-father-established-our-relationship-when-i-was-seven-years-old-he/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [“Will you be encountering each other for the first time through this communication, or do you have an established relationship? Do they already trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-nussbaumer-knaflic/will-you-be-encountering-each-other-for-the-first-time-through-this/) [Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-nussbaumer-knaflic/) > [An adversarial relationship between the president and members of the press can be expected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-acosta/an-adversarial-relationship-between-the-president-and-members-of-the/) [Jim Acosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-acosta/) > [There is no inherent power in the office of the vice presidency. Zero. None. It's all a reflection of your relationship with the president.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/there-is-no-inherent-power-in-the-office-of-the-vice-presidency-zero/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most important aspect of the relationship between the president and the secretary of state is that they both understand who is president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-most-important-aspect-of-the-relationship-between-the-president/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [You know whether you have a real relationship with the president when you know it's real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/you-know-whether-you-have-a-real-relationship-with-the-president-when/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I had a very good relationship with President Bill Clinton when I was prime minister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawaz-sharif/i-had-a-very-good-relationship-with-president-bill-clinton-when-i-was/) [Nawaz Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawaz-sharif/) > [We have good personal relationship with President Obama, our relations are quite frank and business-like. And this is quite enough to do our job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/we-have-good-personal-relationship-with-president-obama-our-relations/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust. I appreciate this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/my-working-and-personal-relationship-with-president-obama-is-marked/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) ## More by F. W. de Klerk > [When I talk about the end of apartheid, I prefer not to claim the honor that I have ended it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/when-i-talk-about-the-end-of-apartheid-i-prefer-not-to-claim-the/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [You cannot say we are a healthy, dynamic democracy when one party wins almost two-thirds of the vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/you-cannot-say-we-are-a-healthy-dynamic-democracy-when-one-party-wins/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [What I haven't apologised for is the original concept of seeking to bring justice to all South Africans through the concept of nation states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/what-i-haven-t-apologised-for-is-the-original-concept-of-seeking-to/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [The question that we must ask is whether we are making progress toward the goal of universal peace. Or are we caught up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/the-question-that-we-must-ask-is-whether-we-are-making-progress/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [It was an honour for me to have been able to work with Mr. Mandela in the process that led to the adoption of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/it-was-an-honour-for-me-to-have-been-able-to-work-with-mr-mandela-in/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [When I first met Mandela, we did not discuss anything of substance; we just felt each other out. He spent a long time expressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/when-i-first-met-mandela-we-did-not-discuss-anything-of-substance-we/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [I believe that first impressions are very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/i-believe-that-first-impressions-are-very-important/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [The ANC party from time to time comes with legislation which, if accepted and if not nullified by the constitution of court, would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/the-anc-party-from-time-to-time-comes-with-legislation-which-if/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [I have made the most profound apology in front of the Truth Commission and on other occasions about the injustices which were wrought by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/i-have-made-the-most-profound-apology-in-front-of-the-truth/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [Above all, we owe it to the children of the world to stop the conflicts and to create new horizons for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/above-all-we-owe-it-to-the-children-of-the-world-to-stop-the/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [The government that came into power after the April 1994 elections was going to need a budget. It was drafted by our finance minister,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/the-government-that-came-into-power-after-the-april-1994-elections/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [It was fortunate in looking back for South Africa and its entire people that Mandela and I found it possible to work together even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/it-was-fortunate-in-looking-back-for-south-africa-and-its-entire/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [My predecessor, P. W. Botha, had an inner circle, and I did not like it. I preferred decisions to evolve out of cabinet discussions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/my-predecessor-p-w-botha-had-an-inner-circle-and-i-did-not-like-it-i/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [In our quest for peace, we should constantly ask ourselves what we should do to create conditions in which peace can prosper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/in-our-quest-for-peace-we-should-constantly-ask-ourselves-what-we/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [For many years, I supported the concept of separate states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/for-many-years-i-supported-the-concept-of-separate-states/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) [Explore all 19 F. 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