--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: South Africans will kick down a statue of…" description: "\"South Africans will kick down a statue of a dead white man but won’t even attempt to slap a live one. Yet they can stone to death a black man simply be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/robert-mugabe-9121_africa_south-africans-will-kick-down-a-statue-o_705833.jpg" --- # South Africans will kick down a statue of a dead white man… ![“South Africans will kick down a statue of a dead white man but won’t even attempt to slap a live one. Yet they can stone to death a black man simply because he’s a foreigner” quote by Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/robert-mugabe-9121_africa_south-africans-will-kick-down-a-statue-o_705833.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/robert-mugabe-9121_africa_south-africans-will-kick-down-a-statue-o_705833.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/robert-mugabe-9121_africa_south-africans-will-kick-down-a-statue-o_705833.jpg) > “South Africans will kick down a statue of a dead white man but won’t even attempt to slap a live one. Yet they can stone to death a black man simply because he’s a foreigner” [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Violence is applied inconsistently, targeting symbols over living beings, revealing deep societal contradictions. **In simple terms:** Violence targets symbols, not people. Key Takeaway Challenge double standards in justice. Themes violence justice race politics Mood critical serious Type political social When to use this quote - human rights advocacy - conflict resolution - education Key Concepts sociology ethics Questions to Reflect On - Why are symbols targeted more than individuals? - How can societies prevent such double standards? A Different Perspective Addressing violence requires systemic change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Africans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africans/) [Foreigners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreigners/) [Kicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kicks/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [South africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-africa/) [South African](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-african/) [White man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-man/) ## Related quotes > [We have our own history, our own language, our own culture. But our destiny is also tied up with the destinies of other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mangosuthu-buthelezi/we-have-our-own-history-our-own-language-our-own-culture-but-our/) [Mangosuthu Buthelezi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mangosuthu-buthelezi/) > [If you just compare South Africans to the rest of the world, I think that white South Africans, and especially English-speaking white South Africans,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/if-you-just-compare-south-africans-to-the-rest-of-the-world-i-think/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [It deals with so many different aspects of living in South Africa the racial issues of South Africans and Asians with poverty with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-thielen/it-deals-with-so-many-different-aspects-of-living-in-south-africa-the/) Laura Thielen > [ I don't know how many \[South Africans\] with HIV would want to take anti-retrovirals. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manto-tshabalala-msimang/i-don-t-know-how-many-south-africans-with-hiv-would-want-to-take-anti/) [Manto Tshabalala-Msimang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manto-tshabalala-msimang/) > [I had to look at white people as fellow South Africans and fellow partners in building a new South Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/i-had-to-look-at-white-people-as-fellow-south-africans-and-fellow/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [Many have lived on a pedestal who will never have a statue when dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/many-have-lived-on-a-pedestal-who-will-never-have-a-statue-when-dead/) [Pierre-Jean de Beranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-jean-de-b-ranger/) > [I have found that the people in South Africa are fabulous. Thy are receptive and value fulfilling their lives. They are highly spirited and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frederick-demartini/i-have-found-that-the-people-in-south-africa-are-fabulous-thy-are/) [John Frederick Demartini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frederick-demartini/) > [New Zealand and SA should take this dimension into account, the skills South Africans are presently contributing to New Zealand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-clark/new-zealand-and-sa-should-take-this-dimension-into-account-the-skills/) [Helen Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-clark/) > [I think, and I don't know if it's because of 'Searching for Sugar Man,' but South Africans seem to not have to go with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/passenger/i-think-and-i-don-t-know-if-it-s-because-of-searching-for-sugar-man/) [Passenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/passenger/) > [It is important that South Africans of all political persuasions be represented in Parliament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-ramaphosa/it-is-important-that-south-africans-of-all-political-persuasions-be/) [Cyril Ramaphosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-ramaphosa/) > [We do not have a South African as a member of the African Commission. The President of the Commission comes from Mali, the Deputy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/we-do-not-have-a-south-african-as-a-member-of-the-african-commission/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [We South Africans are also crazy about football, so the World Cup can be nothing but successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/we-south-africans-are-also-crazy-about-football-so-the-world-cup-can/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [South Africans are caring, compassionate and loving people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/south-africans-are-caring-compassionate-and-loving-people/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [The principal investors in the South African economy are South Africans. And this is something, I think, we should really pay attention to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/the-principal-investors-in-the-south-african-economy-are-south/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/) [Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/) ## More by Robert Mugabe > [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [Mr Bush, Mr. Blair and now Mr Brown's sense of human rights precludes our people's right to their God-given resources, which in their view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/mr-bush-mr-blair-and-now-mr-brown-s-sense-of-human-rights-precludes/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [It could never be a correct justification that, because the whites oppressed us yesterday when they had power, that the blacks must oppress them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/it-could-never-be-a-correct-justification-that-because-the-whites/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [ Our economy is a hundred times better, than the average African economy. Outside South Africa, what country is \[as good as\] Zimbabwe?.. What is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/our-economy-is-a-hundred-times-better-than-the-average-african/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [I wish to assure you that there can never be any return to the state of armed conflict which existed before our commitment to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/i-wish-to-assure-you-that-there-can-never-be-any-return-to-the-state/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [Our small and peaceful country is threatened daily by covetous and bigoted big powers whose hunger for domination and control of other nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/our-small-and-peaceful-country-is-threatened-daily-by-covetous-and/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [Grooming a successor, is it an inheritance? In a democratic party, you don't want leaders appointed that way. They have to be appointed properly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/grooming-a-successor-is-it-an-inheritance-in-a-democratic-party-you/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [The voice of Mr Bush and the voice of Mr Blair can't decide who shall rule in Zimbabwe, who shall rule in Africa, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/the-voice-of-mr-bush-and-the-voice-of-mr-blair-can-t-decide-who-shall/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [If President Barack Obama wants me to allow marriage for same-sex couples in my country (Zimbabwe), he must come here so that I marry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/if-president-barack-obama-wants-me-to-allow-marriage-for-same-sex/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [The struggle hasn't ended. It's only just begun in our view. In the sense that if all goes well during the elections and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/the-struggle-hasn-t-ended-it-s-only-just-begun-in-our-view-in-the/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [Was it not enough punishment and suffering in history that we were uprooted and made helpless slaves not only in new colonial outposts but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/was-it-not-enough-punishment-and-suffering-in-history-that-we-were/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [Sometimes you look back at girls you spent money on rather than send it to your mum and you realise witchcraft is real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/sometimes-you-look-back-at-girls-you-spent-money-on-rather-than-send/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [If anybody attacks us we will readjust and mobilise ourselves for action immediately. That will be the end of the ceasefire if it happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/if-anybody-attacks-us-we-will-readjust-and-mobilise-ourselves-for/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [We will have no mercy for white people regarding the land, they cannot own our soil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/we-will-have-no-mercy-for-white-people-regarding-the-land-they-cannot/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [Africa must revert to what it was before the imperialists divided it. These are artificial divisions which we, in our pan-African concept will seek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/africa-must-revert-to-what-it-was-before-the-imperialists-divided-it/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) [Explore all 75 Robert Mugabe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) ## More Africa quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/) [Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/) > [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [In Africa, animals and the natural landscape allow local communities to support themselves, as there is a constant source of money from tourism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-africa-animals-and-the-natural-landscape-allow-local-communities/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [My mom is from Ghana, and my dad is from Detroit, so I would go back and forth to Africa a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-richardson/my-mom-is-from-ghana-and-my-dad-is-from-detroit-so-i-would-go-back/) [Sam Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-richardson/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/i-represent-my-country-but-i-also-represent-the-continent-of-africa/) [Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/) > [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/) [Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/) > [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [My mother is a huge fan of my work. I told her about 'Coraline' long before the film was made, and she got the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-selick/my-mother-is-a-huge-fan-of-my-work-i-told-her-about-coraline-long/) [Henry Selick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-selick/) [Browse all 1,665 Africa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "South Africans will kick down a statue of a dead white man but won’t even attempt to slap a live one. 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