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Freedom at Last - “I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands.” —From Mandela’s address to Cape Town on Feb. 11, 1990, just days after he was released from prison after serving 27 years for sabotage. (Photo: WALTER DHALDHLA/AFP/Getty Images)

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Inviolable Principle - “We hold it as an inviolable principle that racism must be opposed by all the means that humanity has at its disposal. Wherever it occurs, it has the potential to result in a systematic and comprehensive denial of human rights to those who are discriminated against.” —From Mandela’s address at a special meeting of the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid, Jun. 22, l990. (Photo: DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)

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The First 100 Days - “From the outset, the government of National Unity set itself two interrelated tasks: reconciliation and reconstruction, nation-building and development. This is South Africa’s challenge today. It will remain our challenge for many years to come.” —From Mandela’s opening address at the president's Budget Debate, 100 days after being named the first Black president of South Africa, Aug. 19, 1994. (Photo: WALTER DHLADHLA/AFP/Getty Images)

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Campaign Against AIDS - “The campaign against AIDS is the task of all of us — young and old, government and community organizations, religious and traditional institutions, cultural and sporting bodies. AIDS knows no custom. It knows no color. It knows no boundaries. We have to work together wherever we are to preserve our nation, our continent and humanity as a whole.” —From Mandela’s message on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, 1994. (Photo: WALTER DHLADHLA/AFP/Getty Images)

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The 1998 Census  - “It will take time to absorb the full detail of this intricate picture of our complex society. But the broad outlines should act as a clarion call to rededicate ourselves, in every sector of our society, to the historic mission of a generation charged with transforming South African society in order to eradicate the poverty and imbalances that derive from our past.” —From Mandela’s statement on the results of the South Africa’s 1998 census report. (Photo: Chuck Kennedy)

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Bidding Farewell - “I hope that decades from now, when history is written, the role of that generation will be appreciated, and that I will not be found wanting against the measure of their fortitude and vision.” —From Mandela’s final address as president of South Africa, March 26, 1999. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Hutchings)

Photo By Photo: REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

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An Act of Justice - “It is a world of great promise and hope. It is also a world of despair, disease and hunger. Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.” —From Mandela’s “Africa standing tall against poverty” speech delivered at the Live 8 benefit concert, July 2, 2005. (Photo: Henner Frankenfeld/Getty Images)

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Saluting Oprah Winfrey - “It can be said that there are four basic and primary things that the mass of people in a society wish for: to live in a safe environment, to be able to work and provide for themselves, to have access to good public health and to have sound educational opportunities for their children. Currently we as a society may be struggling in each of those four areas, but we must remain confident that with the personal commitment of each and every one of us, we can and will overcome the obstacles towards development.” —From Mandela’s speech at the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, January 2, 2007. (Photo: REUTERS/Juda Ngwenya)