"Difficulties break some men but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end."

"A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special."

"Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do."

"I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot tell. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward."

"Long Walk to Freedom is not a book; it is a pilgrimage."