Nelson Mandela's Greatest Quotes

Words of inspiration from the South African leader.

On Optimism - Nelson Mandela is one of the most beloved icons of our generation, as wise as he is brave and resolute. In anticipation of the upcoming biopic Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, we look back at some of the South African leader's greatest quotes.  Mandela's thoughts on optimism always makes us feel ready to conquer the day.   (Photo: The Weinstein Company)

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On Optimism - Nelson Mandela is one of the most beloved icons of our generation, as wise as he is brave and resolute. In anticipation of the upcoming biopic Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, we look back at some of the South African leader's greatest quotes. Mandela's thoughts on optimism always makes us feel ready to conquer the day.  (Photo: The Weinstein Company)

Photo By Photo: The Weinstein Company

On Freedom - These words were surely as much an inspiration to Idris Elba, who plays Mandela in Long Walk to Freedom, as they have been to millions of South Africans. (Photo: The Weinstein Company)

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On Freedom - These words were surely as much an inspiration to Idris Elba, who plays Mandela in Long Walk to Freedom, as they have been to millions of South Africans. (Photo: The Weinstein Company)

Photo By Photo: The Weinstein Company

On Character - Mandela's values were his strongest weapon against Apartheid. (Photo: The Weinstein Company)

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On Character - Mandela's values were his strongest weapon against Apartheid. (Photo: The Weinstein Company)

Photo By Photo: The Weinstein Company

On Friendship - Mandela's relationship with his wife and best friend Winnie Mandela, played by Naomie Harris, is at the heart of Long Walk to Freedom.(Photo: The Weinstein Company)

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On Friendship - Mandela's relationship with his wife and best friend Winnie Mandela, played by Naomie Harris, is at the heart of Long Walk to Freedom.(Photo: The Weinstein Company)

On Differences - Nearly twenty years after the fall of Apartheid, Mandela still stands as our best example of unity. (Photo: The Weinstein Company)

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On Differences - Nearly twenty years after the fall of Apartheid, Mandela still stands as our best example of unity. (Photo: The Weinstein Company)

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On Determination - Anant Singh, the producer behing Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, spent sixteen years trying to get the film made. That's what we call determination!(Photo: The Weinstein Company)

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On Determination - Anant Singh, the producer behing Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, spent sixteen years trying to get the film made. That's what we call determination!(Photo: The Weinstein Company)

On Perseverance - Mandela's perseverance was one of the qualities that Elba could relate to most. "As an actor I've traveled the earth and I've sacrificed a s*** load. I can sort of relate to what Mandela was trying to do in that sense — as an ambitious person." (Photo: The Weinstein Company)

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On Perseverance - Mandela's perseverance was one of the qualities that Elba could relate to most. "As an actor I've traveled the earth and I've sacrificed a s*** load. I can sort of relate to what Mandela was trying to do in that sense — as an ambitious person." (Photo: The Weinstein Company)

Photo By Photo: The Weinstein Company

On Peace - Peace in his native South Africa and a sense of hope around the world are the greatest gifts Mandela gave to younger generations. (Photo: The Weinstein Company)

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On Peace - Peace in his native South Africa and a sense of hope around the world are the greatest gifts Mandela gave to younger generations. (Photo: The Weinstein Company)

Photo By Photo: The Weinstein Company