--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I will never be known as the former…" description: "\"I will never be known as the former President of Zaire.\" — Mobutu Sese Seko" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/mobutu-sese-seko-27322_former_i-will-never-be-known-as-the-former-pres_107480.jpg" --- # I will never be known as the former President of Zaire. ![“I will never be known as the former President of Zaire.” quote by Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/mobutu-sese-seko-27322_former_i-will-never-be-known-as-the-former-pres_107480.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/mobutu-sese-seko-27322_former_i-will-never-be-known-as-the-former-pres_107480.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/mobutu-sese-seko-27322_former_i-will-never-be-known-as-the-former-pres_107480.jpg) > “I will never be known as the former President of Zaire.” [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He asserts that his legacy will be defined by his actions, not by a title he once held. **In simple terms:** Legacy matters more than former titles. Key Takeaway Identity is shaped by deeds, not positions. Themes legacy identity political power historical memory Mood reflective determined Type political quote personal philosophy When to use this quote - political memoirs - historical documentaries - leadership training Key Concepts self‑definition public perception Practical Applications - focus on impact over title - manage narrative of legacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure your actions define your legacy? - Can a title ever be fully separated from identity? A Different Perspective A former title can still influence perception and opportunities, regardless of personal intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Former](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/former/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Known President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known-president-257989/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President Zaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-zaire-1285689/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Zaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zaire-211959/) ## Related quotes > [No, I think that if he had known he would be president, he would have started dying his hair, like, 10 years ago. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/no-i-think-that-if-he-had-known-he-would-be-president-he-would-have/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [Zaire needs me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/zaire-needs-me/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [“No man is a caricature, no individual can alone bear responibilty for a nation's collapse. The disaster Zaire became, the dull acquiescence of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/in-the-footsteps-of-mr-kurtz-michala-wrong/no-man-is-a-caricature-no-individual-can-alone-bear-responibilty-for/) [In the footsteps of Mr Kurtz Michala Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/in-the-footsteps-of-mr-kurtz-michala-wrong/) > [If I'd had a magic ejector seat when I went to Zaire, which is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, I would have pressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-wade/if-i-d-had-a-magic-ejector-seat-when-i-went-to-zaire-which-is-now-the/) [Jeremy Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-wade/) > [“The kill rate in humans infected with Ebola Zaire is nine out of ten. Ninety percent of the people who come down with Ebola…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-preston/the-kill-rate-in-humans-infected-with-ebola-zaire-is-nine-out-of-ten/) [Richard Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-preston/) > [“After a moment or two a man in brown crimplene looked in at us, did not at all like the look of us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/after-a-moment-or-two-a-man-in-brown-crimplene-looked-in-at-us-did/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Ebola haunted Zaire because of corruption and political repression. The virus had no secret powers, nor was it unusually contagious. For centuries Ebola had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/ebola-haunted-zaire-because-of-corruption-and-political-repression/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) > [As the National Football League and other pro sports increasingly reckon with the early dementia, mental health issues, suicides and even criminal behavior of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/as-the-national-football-league-and-other-pro-sports-increasingly/) [Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/) > [Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Ronald Reagan's biographer wrote of the former president's final days: "for all the intimate familiarity of that face and body, I did not feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-morris/ronald-reagan-s-biographer-wrote-of-the-former-president-s-final-days/) [Edwin Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-morris/) > [Al Gore, the former vice-president of the United States, lives in a mansion that uses more electricity than the average family's bungalow! David Suzuki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linwood-barclay/al-gore-the-former-vice-president-of-the-united-states-lives-in-a/) [Linwood Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linwood-barclay/) > [They said that President Bush's war in Iraq has cost the former Spanish Prime Minister his job. So President Bush isn't losing American jobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/they-said-that-president-bush-s-war-in-iraq-has-cost-the-former/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [The Cold War philosophy of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD), which prevented the former Soviet Union and the United States from using the nuclear weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/the-cold-war-philosophy-of-mutual-assured-destruction-mad-which/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [President Obama gave a speech about healthcare tonight, and yesterday he gave a pep talk to students. He told them that in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-gave-a-speech-about-healthcare-tonight-and-yesterday/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Critics have stepped up their attacks on the President for authorizing the National Security Agency to listen to international communications of known al Qaeda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/critics-have-stepped-up-their-attacks-on-the-president-for/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) ## More by Mobutu Sese Seko > [If ever I leave power, it will be only in conditions of beauty, never under pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/if-ever-i-leave-power-it-will-be-only-in-conditions-of-beauty-never/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [Zaire needs me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/zaire-needs-me/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [I no longer have a borrowed soul. I no longer have borrowed thoughts or ideas. I no longer speak in a borrowed language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/i-no-longer-have-a-borrowed-soul-i-no-longer-have-borrowed-thoughts/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [If you want to steal, steal a little in a nice way. But if you steal too much to become rich overnight, you'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/if-you-want-to-steal-steal-a-little-in-a-nice-way-but-if-you-steal/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [The responsibility of a chief is to show solidarity with his people and to be strong with his people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/the-responsibility-of-a-chief-is-to-show-solidarity-with-his-people/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [The enemies of our people have chosen the moment when I am knocked off my feet with sickness to stab me in the back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/the-enemies-of-our-people-have-chosen-the-moment-when-i-am-knocked/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [The chief is the chief. He is the eagle who flies high and cannot be touched by the spit of the toad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/the-chief-is-the-chief-he-is-the-eagle-who-flies-high-and-cannot-be/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [I have rendered my country and people an enormous service. They owe me everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/i-have-rendered-my-country-and-people-an-enormous-service-they-owe-me/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [If you want to steal, steal a little cleverly, in a nice way. Only if you steal so much as to become rich overnight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/if-you-want-to-steal-steal-a-little-cleverly-in-a-nice-way-only-if/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [I listen every day to the VOA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/i-listen-every-day-to-the-voa/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [I don't make empty promises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/i-don-t-make-empty-promises/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [The miseries suffered by our people come more from the shameless exploitation of our countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/the-miseries-suffered-by-our-people-come-more-from-the-shameless/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [The lesson is that my support for American policy counts for nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/the-lesson-is-that-my-support-for-american-policy-counts-for-nothing/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [The I.M.F. programs cost us $2 billion in outflows against only $1 billion in inflows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/the-i-m-f-programs-cost-us-2-billion-in-outflows-against-only-1/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) > [If you steal, do not steal too much at a time. You may be arrested. Steal cleverly, little by little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/if-you-steal-do-not-steal-too-much-at-a-time-you-may-be-arrested/) [Mobutu Sese Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) [Explore all 20 Mobutu Sese Seko quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/) ## More Former quotes > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [In my former life I was in insider, as much as anybody else. And I knew what it's like, and I still know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/in-my-former-life-i-was-in-insider-as-much-as-anybody-else-and-i-knew/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/trust-on-and-think-to-morrow-will-repay-to-morrow-s-falser-than-the/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [We began as mineral. We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/we-began-as-mineral-we-emerged-into-plant-life-and-into-the-animal/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [The average American expends more time becoming informed about choosing a car than choosing a candidate. But, then, the consequences of the former choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-average-american-expends-more-time-becoming-informed-about/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/accepting-the-reality-of-our-sinfulness-means-accepting-our-authentic/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Whether Theresa May had stabbed has stabbed the former Mayor of London in the back and Michael Gove had stabbed him in the front.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-evans/whether-theresa-may-had-stabbed-has-stabbed-the-former-mayor-of/) [Nigel Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-evans/) > [You are also asked to take an oath, and that's the oath of service. 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We are left with sagging, rippled flesh and burning gums with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael/time-is-a-vindictive-bandit-to-steal-the-beauty-of-our-former-selves/) [Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael/) > [There are certainly people who regard √2 as something perfectly obvious but jib at √-1. This is because they think they can visualise the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-charles-titchmarsh/there-are-certainly-people-who-regard-2-as-something-perfectly/) [Edward Charles Titchmarsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-charles-titchmarsh/) [Browse all 1,610 Former quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/former/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I will never be known as the former President of Zaire.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mobutu Sese Seko" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/i-will-never-be-known-as-the-former-president-of-zaire/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Former" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/i-will-never-be-known-as-the-former-president-of-zaire/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/mobutu-sese-seko-27322_former_i-will-never-be-known-as-the-former-pres_107480.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/mobutu-sese-seko-27322_former_i-will-never-be-known-as-the-former-pres_107480.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/mobutu-sese-seko-27322_former_i-will-never-be-known-as-the-former-pres_107480.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I will never be known as the former President of Zaire.” — Mobutu Sese Seko", "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": "Mobutu Sese Seko", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobutu-sese-seko/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I will never be known as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/i-will-never-be-known-as-the-former-president-of-zaire/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobutu-sese-seko/i-will-never-be-known-as-the-former-president-of-zaire/#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 } } ] } ```