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 with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for, and to see realised. But my Lord, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”“我已经把我的一生奉献给了非洲人民的斗争，我为反对白人种族统治进行斗争，我也为反对黑人专制而斗争。
我怀有一个建立民主和自由社会的美好理想，在这样的社会里，所有人都和睦相处，有着平等的机会。
我希望为这一理想而活着，并去实现它。
但如果需要的话，我也准备为它献出生命。
”——1964年，曼德拉被判终身监禁时的声明Our march to freedom is irreversible. We must not allow fear to stand in our way. Universal suffrage on a common voters' role in a united democratic and non-racial South Africa is the only way to peace and racial harmony.我们通往自由之路是不可逆转的，我们不能让恐惧挡住道路，非种族化、团结民主的南非的普选权是和平及种族和谐的唯一途径。
——1990年2月11日，曼德拉出狱演讲We enter into a covenant that we shall build the society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity--a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.我们立下誓约，要建立一个让所有南非人，不论是黑人还是白人，都可以昂首阔步的社会。
他们心中不再有恐惧，他们可以肯定自己拥有不可剥夺的人类尊严——这是一个在国内及与其他各国之间都保持和平的美好国度。
——1994年的曼德拉总统就职演说“Death is something inevitable. When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort and that is, therefore, why I will sleep for the eternity.”人固有一死。
当一个人已经完成他对人民和国家的应尽义务之后，他便能安息。
我已尽我所能，正因如此，我也能够安然长眠。
——1994年的曼德拉纪录片采访“I was called a terrorist yesterday, but when I came out of jail, many people embraced me, including my enemies, and that is what I normally tell other people who say those who are struggling for liberation in their country are terrorists. I tell them that I was also a terrorist yesterday, but, today, I am admired by the very people who said I was one.”我曾被叫做恐怖分子，但当我出狱之时，许多人拥抱我，包括我的敌人。
我常常如此告诉那些把为自己国家的解放而奋斗者称作恐怖分子的人，我也曾被称为恐怖分子，但如今，那些称我为恐怖分子的人尊重我。
——2000年5月16日在电视节目“拉里•金沟通现场”上的讲话“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”生命的意义不仅是活着，而是我们给别人的生命带来了何种不同，这决定了我们人生的意义。
——2002年5月18日于南非约翰内斯堡庆祝90岁生日演说“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”教育是最强有力的武器，你能用它来改变世界。
——2003年在南非威特沃特斯兰德大学的讲话“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects andenhances the freedom of other s.”自由不仅仅意味着摆脱自身的枷锁，还意味着以一种尊重并增加他人自由的方式生活。
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour 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 mo re naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”无人生来会因肤色、背景、宗教而憎恨他人，憎恨是人们后天习得的。
如果人们能学会恨，他们也能被教会去爱。
因为对于人的心灵来说，爱比恨来的更加自然。
“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.” Long Walk to Freedom.要想与敌人求和平，就需与敌人合作，然后他就会变成你的伙伴。
“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”勇者并非指那些不感到害怕的人，而是那些能克服自身恐惧的人。
——曼德拉自传《漫漫自由路》After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.当我们爬上一座高山时，我们会发现更多的高山。
2. Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.教育是你可以用来改变世界的最强大的武器。
3. For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.拥有自由并不仅仅意味着摆脱自身的枷锁，而且还意味着以一种尊重和提升他人自由的方式生活。
4. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.我认为拥有勇气并不代表没有恐惧，而是战胜恐惧。
因此勇敢者并非没有畏惧心理的人，而是征服畏惧心理的人。
5. If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.如果你以一种外语和一个人交流，你的话只是进入他的大脑；如果你以他的母语和他交流，你的话深入他的内心。
6. If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.如果你想与你的敌人友好相处，你必须和他工作。
然后他会成为你的伙伴。
7. In my country we go to prison first and then become President.在我的国家我们通常先坐牢然后当总统。
8. Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.但愿普天下所有的人有工作、面包、水和盐。
9. The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.活着最大的荣耀不在于从不摔倒，而在于每一次绊倒后再爬起来。
10. We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.我们必须明智地利用时间，永远要认识到想做正义的事时间总是成熟的Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will.创造成功，靠的不是金钱，而是拥有创造成功的自由。