--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As we mourn President Mandela’s passing…" description: "\"As we mourn President Mandela’s passing we must ask ourselves the fundamental question - what shall we do to respond to the tasks of building a democra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/thabo-mbeki-2259_asks_as-we-mourn-president-mandela-s-passing_3176552.png" --- # As we mourn President Mandela’s passing we must ask… ![“As we mourn President Mandela’s passing we must ask ourselves the fundamental question - what shall we do to respond to the tasks of building a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa, a people-centred society free of hunger, poverty, disease and inequality, as well as…” quote by Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/thabo-mbeki-2259_asks_as-we-mourn-president-mandela-s-passing_3176552.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/thabo-mbeki-2259_asks_as-we-mourn-president-mandela-s-passing_3176552.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/thabo-mbeki-2259_asks_as-we-mourn-president-mandela-s-passing_3176552.png) > “As we mourn President Mandela’s passing we must ask ourselves the fundamental question - what shall we do to respond to the tasks of building a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa, a people-centred society free of hunger, poverty, disease and inequality, as well as Africa’s renaissance, to whose attainment President Nelson Mandela dedicated his whole life?” [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A call to continue Mandela’s vision by addressing systemic injustices and fostering inclusive prosperity. **In simple terms:** Continue Mandela’s work for equality and prosperity. Key Takeaway Act to build a fair, thriving society. Themes justice leadership development Mood hopeful determined Type political inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - community organizing - education reform Key Concepts politics human rights economic growth Questions to Reflect On - What concrete steps can you take locally? - How can societies sustain Mandela’s ideals? A Different Perspective Challenges include entrenched inequality and political resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dedicated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dedicated/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Hunger poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger-poverty/) [Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Prosperous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperous/) [Renaissance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renaissance/) [South africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-africa/) ## Related quotes > [The first time I was privileged to meet president Mandela was during his visit to Malawi... shortly after he was released from prison. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/the-first-time-i-was-privileged-to-meet-president-mandela-was-during/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [President Mandela was not a hands-on president at any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/president-mandela-was-not-a-hands-on-president-at-any-time/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [I spent a lot of time with President Mandela supporting his efforts in the peace process in Burundi. The thing that impressed me the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prendergast/i-spent-a-lot-of-time-with-president-mandela-supporting-his-efforts/) [John Prendergast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prendergast/) > [-I was raped at the age of 9 -Oprah Winfrey -I didn't even complete my university education - Bill Gates -I was sexually, mentally,emotionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-raped-at-the-age-of-9-oprah-winfrey-i-didn-t-even-complete-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am particularly fond of the late President Nelson Mandela. His speeches and courage changed my life and how I see myself. Mandela changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenya-moore/i-am-particularly-fond-of-the-late-president-nelson-mandela-his/) [Kenya Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenya-moore/) > [I have always had great respect for former president Mandela. The personal sacrifices he made in order to achieve what was right for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/i-have-always-had-great-respect-for-former-president-mandela-the/) [Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/) > [The relationship between me and President Mandela right at the beginning was not a very well-established relationship. It was based on two meetings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/the-relationship-between-me-and-president-mandela-right-at-the/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [“While David runs the financial end of the Rockefeller dynasty, Nelson runs the political. Nelson would like to be President of the United States.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-allen/while-david-runs-the-financial-end-of-the-rockefeller-dynasty-nelson/) Gary Allen > [Former South Africa President Nelson Mandela announced Tuesday he will begin writing his autobiography. He spent 25 years in prison before being elected to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/argus-hamilton/former-south-africa-president-nelson-mandela-announced-tuesday-he/) [Argus Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/argus-hamilton/) > [If you look at South Africa and President Nelson Mandela, it was people of the world who held their hands together and stood up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-mitchell/if-you-look-at-south-africa-and-president-nelson-mandela-it-was/) [Liz Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-mitchell/) > [Mandela's commitment to democracy was ratified not only by his election, but by his willingness to step down from power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/mandela-s-commitment-to-democracy-was-ratified-not-only-by-his/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [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 > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Thabo Mbeki > [We should never become despondent because the weather is bad, nor should we turn triumphalist because the sun shines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/we-should-never-become-despondent-because-the-weather-is-bad-nor/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [That surely must be a concern to anyone who decides this drug must be given to stop transmissions, again from mother to child, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/that-surely-must-be-a-concern-to-anyone-who-decides-this-drug-must-be/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [We are not being arrogant or complacent when we are said that our country, as a united nation, has never in its entire history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/we-are-not-being-arrogant-or-complacent-when-we-are-said-that-our/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [I think that probably the most important thing about our education was that it taught us to question even those things we thought we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/i-think-that-probably-the-most-important-thing-about-our-education/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [What we are saying is that we need to consolidate the capacity to lend support. Because, one of the problems that's mentioned with regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/what-we-are-saying-is-that-we-need-to-consolidate-the-capacity-to/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [I say that why don't we bring all points of view. Sit around a table and discuss this evidence, and produce evidence as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/i-say-that-why-don-t-we-bring-all-points-of-view-sit-around-a-table/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [As Africans, we need to share common recognition that all of us stand to lose if we fail to transform our continent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/as-africans-we-need-to-share-common-recognition-that-all-of-us-stand/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [I think you're a much happier person if you say 'Even if I get involved in politics, I'm only doing so in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/i-think-you-re-a-much-happier-person-if-you-say-even-if-i-get/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [I must say, with regard to Equatorial Guinea, the Government of Equatorial Guinea, as soon as they had arrested these people, sent a delegation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/i-must-say-with-regard-to-equatorial-guinea-the-government-of/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [We are in the process of negotiating an agreement with the United States. We will be negotiating agreements with India and China. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/we-are-in-the-process-of-negotiating-an-agreement-with-the-united/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [“Her work sought to challenge all of us critically to reflect on the things we find comfort in believing without question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/her-work-sought-to-challenge-all-of-us-critically-to-reflect-on-the/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [Of course we run a very open economy, and therefore what happens in the rest of the world, in economic terms, obviously has an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/of-course-we-run-a-very-open-economy-and-therefore-what-happens-in/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [Part of the issue around communal land, which became a matter of controversy, is that we are saying that this land must go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/part-of-the-issue-around-communal-land-which-became-a-matter-of/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [Historically during the years of the White minority regimes, the State, the national Government held this land in trust for these communities. We said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/historically-during-the-years-of-the-white-minority-regimes-the-state/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [We want the National Intelligence, we want the Police, we want the Scorpions, any other institutions, the tax people, and so on, the totality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/we-want-the-national-intelligence-we-want-the-police-we-want-the/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) [Explore all 176 Thabo Mbeki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As we mourn President Mandela’s passing we must ask ourselves the fundamental question - what shall we do to respond to the tasks of building a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa, a people-centred society free of hunger, poverty, disease and inequality, as well as Africa’s renaissance, to whose attainment President Nelson Mandela dedicated his whole life?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thabo Mbeki" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/as-we-mourn-president-mandela-s-passing-we-must-ask-ourselves-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/as-we-mourn-president-mandela-s-passing-we-must-ask-ourselves-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/thabo-mbeki-2259_asks_as-we-mourn-president-mandela-s-passing_3176552.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/thabo-mbeki-2259_asks_as-we-mourn-president-mandela-s-passing_3176552.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/thabo-mbeki-2259_asks_as-we-mourn-president-mandela-s-passing_3176552.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As we mourn President Mandela’s passing we must ask ourselves the fundamental question - what shall we do to…” — Thabo Mbeki", "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": "Thabo Mbeki", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As we mourn President Mandela’s passing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/as-we-mourn-president-mandela-s-passing-we-must-ask-ourselves-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/as-we-mourn-president-mandela-s-passing-we-must-ask-ourselves-the/#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 } } ] } ```