--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever anybody called Nelson Mandela a…" description: "\"Whenever anybody called Nelson Mandela a saint, he would say: \"If by saint you mean a sinner who is trying to be better, then I'm a saint.\"\" — Kumi Naidoo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/kumi-naidoo-21702_ifs_whenever-anybody-called-nelson-mandela-a_1701175.png" --- # Whenever anybody called Nelson Mandela a saint, he would… ![“Whenever anybody called Nelson Mandela a saint, he would say: "If by saint you mean a sinner who is trying to be better, then I'm a saint."” quote by Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/kumi-naidoo-21702_ifs_whenever-anybody-called-nelson-mandela-a_1701175.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/kumi-naidoo-21702_ifs_whenever-anybody-called-nelson-mandela-a_1701175.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/kumi-naidoo-21702_ifs_whenever-anybody-called-nelson-mandela-a_1701175.png) > “Whenever anybody called Nelson Mandela a saint, he would say: "If by saint you mean a sinner who is trying to be better, then I'm a saint."” [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He redefines sainthood as continual self‑improvement, not perfection. **In simple terms:** Saint = sinner trying to improve. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and growth. Themes humility self‑improvement leadership Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - religious leadership - personal reflection - public speaking Key Concepts spirituality ethics personal development Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure personal growth? - What responsibilities come with self‑improvement? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic issues by focusing on individual change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-saint-1151561/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mandela/) [Mandela Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mandela-saint-1151559/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nelson/) [Nelson mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nelson-mandela/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Say Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-saint-1151560/) [Sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinner/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [ I think even though he \[Nelson Mandela\] was feted and praised as he was, he always was at pains to say, I'm a human… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/i-think-even-though-he-nelson-mandela-was-feted-and-praised-as-he-was/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [Nelson Mandela also spoke about how, as a human being, he's made mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/nelson-mandela-also-spoke-about-how-as-a-human-being-he-s-made/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [I first met Nelson Mandela when I was in my late 20s, in 1993. I was helping facilitate an African National Congress (ANC) workshop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/i-first-met-nelson-mandela-when-i-was-in-my-late-20s-in-1993-i-was/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [One of the things that I noticed with my own eyes was Nelson Mandela ability to engage with kings and queens and heads of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/one-of-the-things-that-i-noticed-with-my-own-eyes-was-nelson-mandela/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [ Nelson's Mandela own sense of himself was a very humble reading, \[different\] from how the world read him. And, quite often, you had the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/nelson-s-mandela-own-sense-of-himself-was-a-very-humble-reading/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [Nelson Mandela was just a human being, a person like other people, and everyone relaxed. Within a minute, that sort of thing about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/nelson-mandela-was-just-a-human-being-a-person-like-other-people-and/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [ \[Nelson\] Mandela was very keen not to be understood as an exceptional person. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/nelson-mandela-was-very-keen-not-to-be-understood-as-an-exceptional/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [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/) > [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 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/) > [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 Kumi Naidoo > [Investing one cent more in oil, coal and gas is investing in the death of society, and the in the death of our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/investing-one-cent-more-in-oil-coal-and-gas-is-investing-in-the-death/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [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/) > [With an agenda dominated by global security and U.N. reform, it appears that the decisions needed to lift millions of people from abject poverty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/with-an-agenda-dominated-by-global-security-and-u-n-reform-it-appears/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [ If not one more cent in new aid money flowed \[to Africa\], we could with more urgency and efficiency and creativity be doing much… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/if-not-one-more-cent-in-new-aid-money-flowed-to-africa-we-could-with/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [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 was very keen not to be understood as an exceptional person. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/nelson-mandela-was-very-keen-not-to-be-understood-as-an-exceptional/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [The Social License is fundamentally about accountability to people and not just powerful interests. John Morrison’s book reminds all organizations – governments, business and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/the-social-license-is-fundamentally-about-accountability-to-people/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [Nelson Mandela was just a human being, a person like other people, and everyone relaxed. Within a minute, that sort of thing about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/nelson-mandela-was-just-a-human-being-a-person-like-other-people-and/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [I was 15 years old when I first heard the name Mandela, or Madiba, as he is fondly known in Africa. In apartheid South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/i-was-15-years-old-when-i-first-heard-the-name-mandela-or-madiba-as/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [Many people theorize poverty, but so many elements of poverty, individually, for most people who theorize about poverty would be really difficult to even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/many-people-theorize-poverty-but-so-many-elements-of-poverty/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [ Nelson's Mandela own sense of himself was a very humble reading, \[different\] from how the world read him. And, quite often, you had the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/nelson-s-mandela-own-sense-of-himself-was-a-very-humble-reading/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [There is no definition of terrorism and there is still the reality that one person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/there-is-no-definition-of-terrorism-and-there-is-still-the-reality/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [Currently, we allow our political and business leaders to get away with murder. Now is the time to change that. We need direct liability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/currently-we-allow-our-political-and-business-leaders-to-get-away/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [Sandy was a climate change warning. 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If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. 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And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. 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