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We Cannot Blame Other People For Our Troubles. We Are Not Victims Of The Influx Of Foreign People Into South Africa. We Must Remember That It Was Mainly Due To The Aggressive And Hostile Policies Of The Apartheid Regime That The Economic Development Of Our Neighbours Was Undermined.
-Nelson Mandela
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We Cannot Blame Other

Nelson Mandela
We Cannot Blame Other People For Our Troubles. We Are Not Victims Of The Influx Of Foreign People Into South Africa. We Must Remember That It Was Mainly Due To The Aggressive And Hostile Policies Of The Apartheid Regime That The Economic Development Of Our Neighbours Was Undermined.
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People
Development
Blame
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I Knew We Could Improve Our Lives Even In Jail. We Could Come Out As Different Men, And We Could Even Come Out With Two Degrees. Educating Ourselves Was A Way To Give Ourselves The Most Powerful Weapon For Freedom.
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The Real Meaning Of The Spoken Word Has To Be Demonstrated By Practical Deeds
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Issues
Disease
Honesty,sincer Ity,simplicity, Humility, Pure Generosity,abse Nce Of Vanity,readines S To Serve Others -qualities Which Are Within Easy Reach Of Every Soul -are The Foundation Of One's Spiritual Life.
Spiritual
Honesty
Humility
Lead From The Front - But Don T Leave Your Base Behind.
Inspiring
Behinds
Fronts
In My Country We Go To Prison First And Then Become President.
Inspiring
Country
President
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.
Inspiring
Enjoy Life
Challenges
I Hate Race Discrimination Most Intensely And In All Its Manifestations. I Have Fought It All During My Life; I Fight It Now, And Will Do So Until The End Of My Days.
Inspirational
Positive
Hate
A New World Will Be Won Not By Those Who Stand At A Distance With Their Arms Folded, But By Those Who Are In The Arena, Whose Garments Are Torn By Storms And Whose Bodies Are Maimed In The Course Of The Contest.
Distance
Winning
People
Whenever I Am With Energetic Young People, I Feel Like A Recharged Battery.
People
Batteries
Youth
The Impression That You Are A Demigod Worried Me. I Wanted To Be Like An Ordinary Human Being With Virtues And Vices.
Worry
Vices
Ordinary
Men Come And Men Go, I Have Come And I Will Go When My Time Comes
Men
My Time
An Educated, Enlightened & Informed Population Is One Of The Surest Ways Of Promoting The Health Of A Democracy
Democracy
Population
Way
It Can Be Said That There Are Four Basic And Primary Things That The Mass Of People In A Society Wish For: To Live In A Safe Environment, To Be Able To Work And Provide For Themselves, To Have Access To Good Public Health And To Have Sound Educational Opportunities For Their Children.
Children
Educational
Opportunity
Our Experience Has Taught Us That With Goodwill A Negotiated Solution Can Be Found For Even The Most Profound Problems.
Taught Us
Profound
Challenges
Let Us Remind Ourselves That Our Work Is Far From Complete. Where There Is Poverty And Sickness, Including Aids, Where Human Beings Are Being Oppressed, There Is More Work To Be Done. Our Work Is For Freedom For All.
Done
Poverty
Sickness
The Calm And Tolerant Atmosphere That Prevailed During The Elections Depicts The Type Of South Africa We Can Build. It Set The Tone For The Future. We Might Have Our Differences, But We Are One People With A Common Destiny In Our Rich Variety Of Culture, Race And Tradition.
Change
Destiny
Race
If There Is One Thing In This Planet That Has The Power To Bind People It Is Soccer.
Soccer
People
Planets
Let Your Greatness Bloom.
Greatness
There Is No Doubt That The United States Now Feels That They Are The Only Superpower In The World And They Can Do What They Like.
Doubt
United States
World
Do Not Allow Your Anger To Control Your Reason, But Rather Your Reason To Control Your Anger.
Reason
There Is Little Favorable To Be Said About Poverty, But It Was Often An Incubator Of True Friendship.
True Friend
Littles
Poverty
It Is Also The Fate Of Leadership To Be Misunderstood. It Is A Grave Error For Any Leader To Be Oversensitive In The Face Of Criticism, To Conduct Discussions As If He Or She Is A Schoolmaster Talking To Less Informed And Inexperienced Learners.
Fate
Errors
Talking
There Can Be No Greater Gift Than That Of Giving One’s Time And Energy To Help Others Without Expecting Anything In Return.
Helping Others
Giving
Energy
It Is Our Duty To Give Support To The Brother Leader ... Especially In Regards To The Sanctions Which Are Not Hitting Just Him, They Are Hitting The Ordinary Masses Of The People ... Our African Brothers And Sisters.
Brother
People
Giving
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.
Moving
Past
Forgiving
A Bright Future Beckons. The Onus Is On Us, Through Hard Work, Honesty And Integrity, To Reach For The Stars.
Stars
Honesty
Integrity
It Is In The Character Of Growth That We Should Learn From Both Pleasant And Unpleasant Experiences.
Inspirational
Inspiring
Learning
A Garden Was One Of The Few Thing In Prison That One Could Control. To Plant A Seed, Watch It Grow, To Tend It Then Harvest It, Offered A Simple But Enduring Satisfaction. The Sense Of Being The Custodian Of This Small Patch Of Earth Offered A Taste Of Freedom.
Simple
Garden
Custodians
Prison Life, Fortunately, I Spent A Lot Of Years, About 18 Years With Other Prisoners, And, As I Say, They Enriched Your Soul.
Years
Soul
Prison Life
I Am The Captain Of My Soul.
Inspirational
Inspiring
Soul
It Is So Easy To Break Down And Destroy. The Heroes Are Those Who Make Peace And Build.
Hero
Down And
Easy
My Family Is Very Large. 42 Million.
My Family
Millions
The Victory Of Democracy In South Africa Is The Common Achievement Of All Humanity.
Achievement
Humanity
Victory
People Respond In Accordance To How You Relate To Them. If You Approach Them On The Basis Of Violence, That's How They'll React. But If You Say, 'we Want Peace, We Want Stability,' We Can Then Do A Lot Of Things That Will Contribute Towards The Progress Of Our Society.
Inspirational
People
Progress
I Am Fundamentally An Optimist. Whether That Comes From Nature Or Nurture, I Cannot Say. Part Of Being Optimistic Is Keeping One's Head Pointed Toward The Sun, One's Feet Moving Forward. There Were Many Dark Moments When My Faith In Humanity Was Sorely Tested, But I Would Not And Could Not Give Myself Up To Despair. That Way Lays Defeat And Death.
Courage
Peace
Moving
The Titanic Effort That Has Brought Liberation To South Africa, And Ensured The Total Liberation Of Africa, Constitutes An Act Of Redemption For The Black People Of The World.
People
Effort
Black
I Was Able To Change My Life By Knowing That If Somebody Does Something Good For You, You Have To Respond.
Knowing
Doe
Able
There Is No Future Without Forgiveness
Racism Is A Blight On The Human Conscience. The Idea That Any People Can Be Inferior To Another, To The Point Where Those Who Consider Themselves Superior Define And Treat The Rest As Subhuman, Denies The Humanity Even Of Those Who Elevate Themselves To The Status Of Gods.
Ideas
Racism
People
We Now Undertake That We Cannot Rest While Millions Of Our People Suffer The Pain And Indignity Of Poverty In All Its Forms.
Pain
People
Suffering
Freedom Can Never Be Taken For Granted. Each Generation Must Safeguard It And Extend It. Your Parents And Elders Sacrificed Much So That You Should Have Freedom Without Suffering What They Did. Use This Precious Right To Ensure That The Darkness Of The Past Never Returns.
Taken
Past
Should Have
The Youth Of Today Are The Leaders Of Tomorrow.
Leaders Of Tomorrow
Youth Of Today
Leader
Our Hope Is That The Elementary Reading Of Comics Will Lead To The Joy Of Reading Good Books.
Book
Reading
Joy
Only Through Hardship, Sacrifice And Militant Action Can Freedom Be Won. The Struggle Is My Life. I Will Continue Fighting For Freedom Until The End Of My Days.
Struggle
Sacrifice
Fighting
In Human Affairs, No Single Person, Organisation Or Social Formation Ever Has A Final Or An Absolutely Correct Position. It Is Through Conversation, Debate And Critical Discussion That We Approach Positions That May Provide Workable Solutions.
Finals
May
Debate
I Have Always Endeavoured To Listen To What Each And Every Person In A Discussion Had To Say Before Venturing My Own Opinion.
Nimble
Opinion
Discussion
As We Judge Others So Are We Judged By Others. The Suspicious Will Always Be Tormented By Suspicion.
Judging
Suspicion
Suspicious
Individuals Get Caught Up In The Policy Of Their Country. In Prison, For Instance, A Warden Or Officer Is Not Promoted If He Doesn't Follow The Policy Of The Government - Though He Himself Does Not Believe In That Policy.
Country
Believe
Government
I Believe That In The End That It Is Kindness And Accommodation That Are All The Catalysts For Real Change.
Kindness
Real
Believe
A Free Press Is One Of The Pillars Of Democracy.
Democracy
Pillars
Free Press
The Anchor Of All My Dreams Is The Collective Wisdom Of Mankind As A Whole.
Dream
Anchors
Mankind
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?
Strength
Courage
Commitment
There Is No Such Thing As Part Freedom.
Criminal Mind
Internet
Free Speech
I Say To All Those Leaders, Do Not Look The Other Way. Do Not Hesitate... It Is Within Your Power To Avoid A Genocide Of Humanity.
Leader
Looks
Way
Understanding Quotes: Their Essence and Application

Quotes, or quotations, are powerful tools in communication, encapsulating ideas, emotions, and wisdom in concise expressions. They serve various purposes across different contexts, from academic writing to everyday conversation.

1. Defining Quotes

A quote is a repetition of someone else's statement or thoughts. It can be a direct replication of words spoken or written by another individual, often used to support arguments, provide evidence, or convey profound insights.


2. The Importance of Quotes

2.1. Enhancing Credibility

Incorporating quotes from authoritative sources can bolster the credibility of your work. By referencing experts or primary sources, you demonstrate thorough research and a solid foundation for your arguments.


2.2. Providing Evidence

Quotes serve as concrete evidence to support claims. In academic and professional writing, they validate points made, offering readers a basis to trust the information presented.


2.3. Conveying Emotions and Perspectives

Quotes can encapsulate emotions and perspectives succinctly. They allow writers to express complex feelings or viewpoints through the words of others, often more eloquently than paraphrasing.


3. Types of Quotes

3.1. Direct Quotes

Direct quotes involve copying the exact words from a source, enclosed in quotation marks. They are used when the original wording is significant or particularly well-expressed.


3.2. Indirect Quotes (Paraphrasing)

Indirect quotes restate the original message in your own words. While not enclosed in quotation marks, they still require proper attribution to the original source.


3.3. Block Quotes

Block quotes are lengthy direct quotations, formatted as a separate block of text. They are typically used for quotes exceeding a certain length, varying by citation style. For instance, in APA style, quotes longer than 40 words are formatted as block quotes.



4. Proper Usage of Quotes


4.1. Contextual Relevance

Ensure that the quote you choose is relevant to the topic and adds value to your content. Avoid inserting quotes solely for decorative purposes.


4.2. Integration into Your Writing

Seamlessly integrate quotes into your writing. Introduce them appropriately and follow up with analysis or commentary to connect them to your main points.


4.3. Attribution and Citation

Always attribute quotes to their original authors and provide proper citations according to the required style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).


5. Common Mistakes to Avoid


5.1. Overusing Quotes

Relying too heavily on quotes can overshadow your voice. Use them sparingly to support your arguments, not replace them.


5.2. Lack of Analysis

Presenting a quote without analysis or explanation can leave readers questioning its relevance. Always follow up with your interpretation or discussion.


5.3. Misquoting or Taking Out of Context

Ensure that quotes are accurate and not taken out of context, as this can mislead readers and undermine your credibility.



6. Quotes in Different Contexts


6.1. Academic Writing

In academic writing, quotes are used to support arguments, provide evidence, and engage with existing literature. Proper citation is crucial to avoid plagiarism.


6.2. Journalism

Journalists use quotes to provide firsthand accounts, add authenticity, and present multiple perspectives within a story.


6.3. Literature and Creative Writing

In literature, quotes can be used to convey character voices, themes, and stylistic elements. They enrich narratives and provide depth to storytelling.



7. Punctuation and Formatting


Understanding the correct punctuation and formatting of quotes is essential:


Quotation Marks: Always enclose direct quotes within quotation marks.


Punctuation Placement: In American English, periods and commas are placed inside quotation marks, while colons and semicolons are placed outside.


Block Quotes: For longer quotes, format them as block quotes without quotation marks, and indent the entire block.



8. Ethical Considerations


Ethical use of quotes involves accurate representation, proper attribution, and respect for intellectual property. Misuse can lead to plagiarism, which carries serious academic and professional consequences.

9. Tools for Managing Quotes


Utilize tools like citation generators and plagiarism checkers to manage quotes effectively. These tools help ensure proper formatting and originality in your writing.



Conclusion


Quotes are invaluable in enriching content, providing evidence, and conveying complex ideas succinctly. When used appropriately, they enhance the quality and credibility of your writing. Always ensure relevance, proper integration, and ethical usage to maximize their impact.


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