--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What moved us was not so much what would…" description: "\"What moved us was not so much what would it do for South Africa, but there has been a great keenness on the Continent that the location of the Pan Afri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/thabo-mbeki-2259_add_what-moved-us-was-not-so-much-what-would_1076668.jpg" --- # What moved us was not so much what would it do for South… ![“What moved us was not so much what would it do for South Africa, but there has been a great keenness on the Continent that the location of the Pan African Parliament must add to its credibility. And, so we said, fine, it's a contribution to this process of the democratisation of the African…” quote by Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/thabo-mbeki-2259_add_what-moved-us-was-not-so-much-what-would_1076668.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/thabo-mbeki-2259_add_what-moved-us-was-not-so-much-what-would_1076668.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/thabo-mbeki-2259_add_what-moved-us-was-not-so-much-what-would_1076668.jpg) > “What moved us was not so much what would it do for South Africa, but there has been a great keenness on the Continent that the location of the Pan African Parliament must add to its credibility. And, so we said, fine, it's a contribution to this process of the democratisation of the African Continent.” [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. Emphasizes that the Pan African Parliament’s credibility hinges on continental support, not just national benefit. **In simple terms:** Credibility comes from broad African backing. Key Takeaway Seek pan‑African consensus. Themes politics governance regional integration Mood optimistic determined Type political strategic When to use this quote - policy drafting - international negotiations - regional conferences Key Concepts democracy institutional legitimacy continental solidarity Questions to Reflect On - How can national interests align with continental credibility? - What mechanisms ensure broad African support? A Different Perspective May overlook local concerns in favor of pan‑African goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African continent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-continent/) [Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) [Credibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credibility/) [Keenness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keenness/) [Parliament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parliament/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [South africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-africa/) ## Related quotes > [As I said, the matter of the Pan African Parliament was raised with us by other African countries who said we should host.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/as-i-said-the-matter-of-the-pan-african-parliament-was-raised-with-us/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [We were asked to host the Pan African Parliament and we agreed to this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/we-were-asked-to-host-the-pan-african-parliament-and-we-agreed-to-this/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [Once serious political dialogue has begun, the international community can assume that we have achieved genuine progress along the road to real democratisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/once-serious-political-dialogue-has-begun-the-international-community/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [Read a textbook. It will tell you. These are the things for instance on the African continent that will contribute to immune deficiency, various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/read-a-textbook-it-will-tell-you-these-are-the-things-for-instance-on/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [I don't think there would be many examples of South Africa pushing its weight around the African Continent. I don't think the facts would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/i-don-t-think-there-would-be-many-examples-of-south-africa-pushing/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [Given that everyone's got a voice, it's the age of the democratisation of information through digital technology. That means women can rise up, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/given-that-everyone-s-got-a-voice-it-s-the-age-of-the-democratisation/) [Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/) > [I think the Internet is absolutely extraordinary. It's very, very useful and I think one of the things we've got to do is make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/i-think-the-internet-is-absolutely-extraordinary-it-s-very-very/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [China surely must be interested in a more stable, non-antagonistic relationship with the African continent precisely because of its own needs. And therefore would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/china-surely-must-be-interested-in-a-more-stable-non-antagonistic/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [The greatest intensification of the horrors of war is a direct result of the democratisation of the State. 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It is also, in my experience, one of the most thrilling and enduring delights of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/reading-is-a-stout-hearted-activity-disporting-courage-keenness-stick/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [“A man shall not boast of his keenness of mind, But keep it close in his breast; To the silent and wise does ill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-shall-not-boast-of-his-keenness-of-mind-but-keep-it-close-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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. 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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. 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The well-adapted drop off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/a-modern-man-has-nothing-to-add-to-modernism-if-only-because-he-has/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [Observation and theory get on best when they are mixed together, both helping one another in the pursuit of truth. It is a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/observation-and-theory-get-on-best-when-they-are-mixed-together-both/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [I may add that we have more than once stated our willingness to conclude nonaggression pacts with the states neighboring our own!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-may-add-that-we-have-more-than-once-stated-our-willingness-to/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' 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