We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.

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.

He who is to be a good ruler must have first been ruled.

Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.

Let us all be brave enough to die the death of a martyr, but let no one lust for martyrdom.

 India is a geographical term. It is no more a united nation than the Equator. 

We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately. 

I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of, such as getting my girlfriend pregnant when I was 23 and the way I handled that.

Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it. 

Friendship is essentially a partnership.

Man is supposed to be the maker of his destiny. It is only partly true. He can make his destiny, only in so far as he is allowed by the Great Power.

We may stumble and fall but shall rise again; it should be enough if we did not run away from the battle.