Nelson Mandela, o primeiro presidente democraticamente eleito da África do Sul e ganhador do prêmio Nobel da Paz, faleceu [1] no dia 5 de dezembro de 2013, com 95 anos de idade. Mandela passou 27 anos na prisão devido à sua luta contra o sistema de segregação racial na África do Sul conhecido como apartheid [2]. Libertado da prisão em 1990, ele foi eleito presidente quatro anos mais tarde, tendo deixado seu cargo após cumprir apenas um único mandato – um gesto raro na política africana.
Homem de Estado internacionalmente respeitado e admirado, ele tinha um talento impressionante com as palavras. Uma de suas frases mais famosas foi proferida em seu desafiador discurso diante do tribunal no chamado Julgamento de Rivonia [3] em 1964, em que, acusado de traição, Mandela disse [4] [en]:
I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.
Além de seu discurso no julgamento de Rivonia, Mandela deixa como legado diversas citações memoráveis e sábias feitas ao longo de sua vida. Apesar de seu falecimento, ele continua a dialogar com o mundo por meio de usuários do Twitter que reagiram às notícias sobre sua morte compartilhando suas frases.
Sobre julgar:
“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”- Nelson Mandela #RIPNelsonMandela [5]
— Kate Gonzales∞♥ (@ReeeyPJr) December 6, 2013 [6]
“I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.” – Nelson Mandela
— Alfredo Flores (@AlfredoFlores) December 6, 2013 [7]
Sobre o ódio:
“Hating clouds the mind. It gets in the way of strategy. Leaders cannot afford to hate.” — Nelson Mandela http://t.co/lUjOnHI7Jh [8]
— Simon Jones (@mrjonesinsf) December 6, 2013 [9]
“If they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” #NelsonMandela [10]
— John Roberts (@JohnRobertsFun) December 6, 2013 [11]
No one is born hating… _Nelson Mandela pic.twitter.com/nzs8zxNKrw [12]
— Joseph Attieh (@AttiehJoseph) December 6, 2013 [13]
Sobre o perdão:
“Courageous people do not fear forgiving for the sake of peace.”#NelsonMandelaquotes [14]
— ♠I_am_tobi☺™ (@AsvpNast) December 5, 2013 [15]
“You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution” #NelsonMandelaQuotes [16]
— Sagittarius Queen (@Phin_Dee) July 18, 2012 [17]
Sobre os esportes:
“Sport can awaken hope where there was previously only despair.” #RIPNelsonMandela [5] http://t.co/6TFhK8H6jb [18] pic.twitter.com/ymmPVXCbDo [19]
— HuffPost UK (@HuffPostUK) December 6, 2013 [20]
Sobre liderança:
“Lead from the back — and let others believe they are in front.” ― #NelsonMandela [10] #NelsonMandelaQuotes [16] pic.twitter.com/4woa35MpEB [21]
— Move! magazine SA (@MoveMag) December 6, 2013 [22]
Sobre racismo:
“I detest racialism because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man.” #NelsonMandelaQuotes [16]
— Gabriel Le Roux (@gabrielpleroux) December 6, 2013 [23]
Sobre determinação:
‘it always seem impossible until it's done.’ #NelsonMandelaQuotes [16] pic.twitter.com/mSKP0LBrRX [24]
— melike futtu (@bilendikcebilen) December 6, 2013 [25]
The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.- Nelson Mandela, Long Walk To Freedom, 1994
— JHB STUDENTS (@JHBSTUDENTS) December 6, 2013 [26]
“Honour belongs to those who never forsake the truth, even when things seem dark and grim.”-Nelson Mandela 1969 #RIP [27]
— ANC_LECTURES (@ANC_LECTURES) December 6, 2013 [28]
Sobre a liberdade:
“For to be free is not to merely cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. “#RIPMandela [29]
— Angisiwe Mafumana (@Angi_M_) December 6, 2013 [30]
Sobre educação:
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” ~Nelson Mandela RIP.
— Chris (@Valandir) December 6, 2013 [31]
Sobre a prisão:
“It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails.” ― #NelsonMandelaQuotes [16]
— RISE NETWORKS (@Risenetworks) December 6, 2013 [32]
Sobre o dever:
“When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people & his country, he can rest in peace” ~ Nelson Mandela #RIPNelsonMandela [5]
— Melv73™ (@Melv73) December 6, 2013 [33]