A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination

Cresci com as sugestões feitas pelos meus pais sobre excelentes escritores, leituras fundamentais e foi através de minha mãe, na década de oitenta, que conheci Nadine Gordimer e entrei em seu mundo. Nobel de literatura em 1991, o que mais impressiona na obra dessa escritora sul-africana, nascida em 1923, é sua coragem para, desde a década de cinquenta, escrever com realismo impressionante sobre o apartheid, os movimentos contrários e expor as dificuldades – pessoais, morais e materiais – impostas pela cruel política da segregação racial. Escrever sobre seu país, sem jamais ter deixado de viver na África do Sul; sem a proteção da distância geográfica ou de algum asilo político. Admiro Gordimer e a considero paradigma essencial, em tempo tão carente de bons exemplos.

Nelson Mandela comemora vinte anos de liberdade e sua história, seus feitos, suas conquistas são por todos conhecidas. 

"- After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.

- Does anybody really think that they didn't get what they had because they didn't have the talent or the strength or the endurance or the commitment?

- Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

- 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.

- I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man.

- I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.

- I dream of the realization of the unity of Africa, whereby its leaders combine in their efforts to solve the problems of this continent. I dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wildernesses.

- 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.

- If the United States of America or Britain is having elections, they don't ask for observers from Africa or from Asia. But when we have elections, they want observers.

- If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.

- 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.

- If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.

- In my country we go to prison first and then become President.

- It always seems impossible until its done.

- It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.

- Let freedom reign. The sun never set on so glorious a human achievement.

- Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all."