Friday, December 6, 2013

SOME THOUGHTS ON THE LEGACY OF NELSON MANDELA

With the passing yesterday of Nelson Mandela, I took the time yesterday evening to reflect on him and his life.  I have studied his teachings and admired the life that he has lived.  What an amazing legacy to leave that he could battle against so many great odds without quitting...get knocked down time and again only to rise...then reach a great pinnacle of power only to treat all with great humility and compassion.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Mr. Mandela:

“A leader ... is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.”
"Let the strivings of us all prove Martin Luther King Jr. to have been correct, when he said that humanity can no longer be tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war. Let the efforts of us all prove that he was not a mere dreamer when he spoke of the beauty of genuine brotherhood and peace being more precious than diamonds or silver or gold. Let a new age dawn."

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."

"The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same”

"We recall our terrible past so that we can deal with it, to forgive where forgiveness is necessary, without forgetting; to ensure that never again will such inhumanity tear us apart; and to move ourselves to eradicate a legacy that lurks dangerously as a threat to our democracy."

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

“When there is danger, a good leader takes the front line; but when there is celebration, a good leader stays in the back of the room.”

“Even if you have a terminal disease, you don't have to sit down and mope. Enjoy life and challenge the illness that you have.”