--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A new world will be won not by those who…" description: "\"“A new world will be won not by those who stand at a distance with their arms folded, but by those who are in the arena, whose garments are torn by sto..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/nelson-mandela-248_winnie-mandela_a-new-world-will-be-won-not-by-those-who_2218098.jpg" --- # A new world will be won not by those who stand at a… ![“A new world will be won not by those who stand at a distance with their arms folded, but by those who are in the arena, whose garments are torn by storms and whose bodies are maimed in the course of the contest. From a letter to Winnie Mandela,” quote by Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/nelson-mandela-248_winnie-mandela_a-new-world-will-be-won-not-by-those-who_2218098.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/nelson-mandela-248_winnie-mandela_a-new-world-will-be-won-not-by-those-who_2218098.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/nelson-mandela-248_winnie-mandela_a-new-world-will-be-won-not-by-those-who_2218098.jpg) > ““A new world will be won not by those who stand at a distance with their arms folded, but by those who are in the arena, whose garments are torn by storms and whose bodies are maimed in the course of the contest. From a letter to Winnie Mandela,”” [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True change requires active participation and sacrifice, not passive observation. **In simple terms:** Act, don’t just watch. Key Takeaway Engage directly in the causes you care about. Themes activism courage commitment Mood determined serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - community organizing - political protest - human rights advocacy Key Concepts social justice collective action Questions to Reflect On - Are you willing to face hardship for your values? - What does “being in the arena” look like for you? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout and personal harm exists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [New world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-world/) ## Related quotes > [A new world will be won not by those who stand at a distance with their arms folded, but by those who are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/a-new-world-will-be-won-not-by-those-who-stand-at-a-distance-with-2/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“It was Che’s dictum that it was better to execute one hundred innocent men, than to allow one clever traitor to live to challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/it-was-che-s-dictum-that-it-was-better-to-execute-one-hundred/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [Nelson Mandela was in jail when I was really young, and Winnie Mandela was one of the biggest faces of the movement. In South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/nelson-mandela-was-in-jail-when-i-was-really-young-and-winnie-mandela/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [It's hard not to question whether the harsh verdict of Winnie Mandela is a reflection of discomfort with women warriors or, more broadly, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/it-s-hard-not-to-question-whether-the-harsh-verdict-of-winnie-mandela/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [I want to see Nelson walking down the streets of South Africa; I want to see him walking hand-in-hand with Winnie Mandela.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/i-want-to-see-nelson-walking-down-the-streets-of-south-africa-i-want/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [I had an awkward moment when I got a phone call from the person pretending to be Winnie Mandela. 'Winnie' sounded about 12 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-veitch/i-had-an-awkward-moment-when-i-got-a-phone-call-from-the-person/) [James Veitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-veitch/) > [A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. --Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/a-good-head-and-a-good-heart-are-always-a-formidable-combination-2/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“I cherish my own freedom dearly, but I care even more for your freedom. From a response to an offer of conditional freedom, read by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-cherish-my-own-freedom-dearly-but-i-care-even-more-for-your-freedom-3/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [That was one of the things that worried me – to be raised to the position of a semi-god – because then you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/that-was-one-of-the-things-that-worried-me-to-be-raised-to-the/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [There will be life after Mandela. On my last day I want to know that those who remain behind will say: 'The man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/there-will-be-life-after-mandela-on-my-last-day-i-want-to-know-that/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“When describing why the African National Congress took the fateful decision to give up on nonviolence and take up arms, Mandela writes that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/when-describing-why-the-african-national-congress-took-the-fateful/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“Resentment is a method of self harm. "As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/resentment-is-a-method-of-self-harm-as-i-walked-out-the-door-toward/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner. -Nelson Mandela, activist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/if-you-want-to-make-peace-with-your-enemy-you-have-to-work-with-your/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [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/) > [“ When you are young and strong...you can stay alive on your hatred"…but realized later "They can take everything from me except my mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/when-you-are-young-and-strong-you-can-stay-alive-on-your-hatred-but/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## More by Nelson Mandela > [We must work together to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth, opportunity and power in our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-must-work-together-to-ensure-the-equitable-distribution-of-wealth/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Especially for those of us who lived in single cells, you had the time to sit down and think, and we discovered that sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/especially-for-those-of-us-who-lived-in-single-cells-you-had-the-time/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [If you don't allow people to contribute, to offer their point of view, or to criticize what has been put before them, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/if-you-don-t-allow-people-to-contribute-to-offer-their-point-of-view/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/courageous-people-do-not-fear-forgiving-for-the-sake-of-peace/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [As a leader... I have always endeavored to listen to what each and every person in a discussion had to say before venturing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/as-a-leader-i-have-always-endeavored-to-listen-to-what-each-and-every/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Some of the mission groups that have been responsible for our education have not been part of the government. In fact, they acted contrary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/some-of-the-mission-groups-that-have-been-responsible-for-our/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“I believed that I would become a counsellor to the Thembu king,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-believed-that-i-would-become-a-counsellor-to-the-thembu-king/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [What he means by this is that instead of saying you'll "try", you need to "do". And as we let our light shine, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/what-he-means-by-this-is-that-instead-of-saying-you-ll-try-you-need/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-learned-that-courage-was-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-the-triumph/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [We need to exert ourselves that much more, and break out of the vicious cycle of dependence imposed on us by the financially powerful:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-need-to-exert-ourselves-that-much-more-and-break-out-of-the/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“Prison is a still point in a turning world, and it is very easy to remain in the same place in jail while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/prison-is-a-still-point-in-a-turning-world-and-it-is-very-easy-to/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/a-fundamental-concern-for-others-in-our-individual-and-community/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I am aware of what the position is in the United States of America. If somebody gives to charity, then he gets a tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-am-aware-of-what-the-position-is-in-the-united-states-of-america-if/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [It is our duty to give support to the brother leader ... especially in regards to the sanctions which are not hitting just him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-is-our-duty-to-give-support-to-the-brother-leader-especially-in/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [It was during those long and lonely years that my hunger for the freedom of our own people became a hunger for the freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/it-was-during-those-long-and-lonely-years-that-my-hunger-for-the/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) [Explore all 809 Nelson Mandela quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## 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": "“A new world will be won not by those who stand at a distance with their arms folded, but by those who are in the arena, whose garments are torn by storms and whose bodies are maimed in the course of the contest. From a letter to Winnie Mandela,”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nelson Mandela" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/a-new-world-will-be-won-not-by-those-who-stand-at-a-distance-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Mandela" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/a-new-world-will-be-won-not-by-those-who-stand-at-a-distance-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/nelson-mandela-248_winnie-mandela_a-new-world-will-be-won-not-by-those-who_2218098.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/nelson-mandela-248_winnie-mandela_a-new-world-will-be-won-not-by-those-who_2218098.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfa/nelson-mandela-248_winnie-mandela_a-new-world-will-be-won-not-by-those-who_2218098.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A new world will be won not by those who stand at a distance with their arms folded, but by those who are in…” — Nelson Mandela", "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": "Nelson Mandela", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A new world will be won...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/a-new-world-will-be-won-not-by-those-who-stand-at-a-distance-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/a-new-world-will-be-won-not-by-those-who-stand-at-a-distance-with/#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 } } ] } ```