--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only through hardship, sacrifice and…" description: "\"Only through hardship, sacrifice and militant action can freedom be won. The struggle is my life. I will continue fighting for freedom until the end of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/nelson-mandela-248_action_only-through-hardship-sacrifice-and-mili_1977112.jpg" --- # Only through hardship, sacrifice and militant action can… ![“Only through hardship, sacrifice and militant action can freedom be won. The struggle is my life. I will continue fighting for freedom until the end of my days.” quote by Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/nelson-mandela-248_action_only-through-hardship-sacrifice-and-mili_1977112.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/nelson-mandela-248_action_only-through-hardship-sacrifice-and-mili_1977112.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/nelson-mandela-248_action_only-through-hardship-sacrifice-and-mili_1977112.jpg) > “Only through hardship, sacrifice and militant action can freedom be won. The struggle is my life. I will continue fighting for freedom until the end of my days.” [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. He asserts that enduring struggle, sacrifice, and militant action are essential to achieving and preserving freedom. **In simple terms:** Freedom requires sacrifice and persistent struggle. Key Takeaway Commit to lifelong fight for freedom. Themes freedom struggle activism resilience Mood determined hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - protest movements - human rights advocacy - community organizing - education campaigns Key Concepts political theory human rights social justice Questions to Reflect On - Is violence ever justified for freedom? - How can societies balance struggle with peace? A Different Perspective Militant action may conflict with nonviolent principles and reconciliation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Continue Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continue-fighting-1180222/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Fighting for freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting-for-freedom/) [Fighting Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting-freedom/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Won](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-won-1218296/) [Hardship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardship/) [Hardship Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardship-sacrifice-3353480/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is a struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is-a-struggle/) [Life struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-struggle/) [Militant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/militant/) [My struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-struggle/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [South africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-africa/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle for freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-for-freedom/) [Won Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/won-struggle-1459258/) ## Related quotes > [I will not leave South Africa, nor will I surrender. Only through hardship, sacrifice and militant action can freedom be won. The struggle is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-will-not-leave-south-africa-nor-will-i-surrender-only-through/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [We have no right to believe that freedom can be won without struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/we-have-no-right-to-believe-that-freedom-can-be-won-without-struggle/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [“Freedom is not won by a passive acceptance of suffering. Freedom is won by a struggle against suffering. By this measure, Negroes have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/freedom-is-not-won-by-a-passive-acceptance-of-suffering-freedom-is/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [At all times, day by day, we have to continue fighting for freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom from want... for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/at-all-times-day-by-day-we-have-to-continue-fighting-for-freedom-of/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Freedom of speech wasn't won by being nice, it has been won by struggle with religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/freedom-of-speech-wasn-t-won-by-being-nice-it-has-been-won-by/) [David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/) > [Every inch of progress is won in struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katha-pollitt/every-inch-of-progress-is-won-in-struggle/) [Katha Pollitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katha-pollitt/) > [The people of Africa have learned the lessons of patience and endurance in their long struggle for freedom. In a cynical world we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/the-people-of-africa-have-learned-the-lessons-of-patience-and/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“..:We might get knocked down, but we must get back up again and again and continue fighting. Fight as if your life depends on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-garcia/we-might-get-knocked-down-but-we-must-get-back-up-again-and-again-and/) [Rafael Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-garcia/) > [War buddies don't exist in the meeting room. It's a battle between a lot of different officers. Some continue fighting when they don't realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideo-kojima/war-buddies-don-t-exist-in-the-meeting-room-it-s-a-battle-between-a/) [Hideo Kojima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideo-kojima/) > [We shall heal our wounds, collect our dead and continue fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/we-shall-heal-our-wounds-collect-our-dead-and-continue-fighting/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [“Live to fight another day was an expression that did not take nto account the loved one who would die because you didn't continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-liparulo/live-to-fight-another-day-was-an-expression-that-did-not-take-nto/) [Robert Liparulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-liparulo/) > [Our government is asking people to continue fighting wars for us but we don't always treat them as well as we do when they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-lamb/our-government-is-asking-people-to-continue-fighting-wars-for-us-but/) [Conor Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-lamb/) > [I've always made it a priority to stand up for our land, water, and wildlife corridors, and in the Senate, I'll continue fighting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-ray-lujan/i-ve-always-made-it-a-priority-to-stand-up-for-our-land-water-and/) [Ben Ray Lujan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-ray-lujan/) > [I will continue fighting for New Mexicans for as long as they allow me to serve as their voice in the U.S. Senate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-ray-lujan/i-will-continue-fighting-for-new-mexicans-for-as-long-as-they-allow/) [Ben Ray Lujan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-ray-lujan/) > [Haters are our ammunition. They motivate us to continue fighting for our rights. That's why I continue to share my story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazz-jennings/haters-are-our-ammunition-they-motivate-us-to-continue-fighting-for/) [Jazz Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazz-jennings/) ## 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 Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only through hardship, sacrifice and militant action can freedom be won. The struggle is my life. I will continue fighting for freedom until the end of my days.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nelson Mandela" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/only-through-hardship-sacrifice-and-militant-action-can-freedom-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/only-through-hardship-sacrifice-and-militant-action-can-freedom-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/nelson-mandela-248_action_only-through-hardship-sacrifice-and-mili_1977112.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/nelson-mandela-248_action_only-through-hardship-sacrifice-and-mili_1977112.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d80/nelson-mandela-248_action_only-through-hardship-sacrifice-and-mili_1977112.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Only through hardship, sacrifice and militant action can freedom be won. The struggle is my life. I will…” — 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": "Only through hardship, sacrifice and militant...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/only-through-hardship-sacrifice-and-militant-action-can-freedom-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/only-through-hardship-sacrifice-and-militant-action-can-freedom-be/#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 } } ] } ```