Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.

Hell, there are no rules here - we are trying to accomplish something.

I'd say it's been my biggest problem all my life... it's money. It takes a lot of money to make these dreams come true.

As an attorney, I could be rather flamboyant in court. I did not act as though I were a black man in a white man's court, but as if everyone else - white and black - was a guest in my court. When trying a case, I often made sweeping gestures and used high-flown language.

You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else. 

One thing I want to make clear, as far as my own rebirth is concerned, the final authority is myself and no one else, and obviously not China's Communists.

If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.

Let freedom reign. The sun never set on so glorious a human achievement.

Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own; and from morning to night, as from the cradle to the grave, it is but a succession of changes so gentle and easy that we can scarcely mark their progress.

Only death can liberate us from the fear of death.

I was first imprisoned in Pretoria, and then, thereafter, I was taken to Robben Island. I stayed there for a couple of weeks. I was taken back to Pretoria when I was charged in the Rivonia trial, when I was then sent to Robben Island for life.

Citizenship consists in the service of the country.