“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?”
Image credits: John Mathew Smith 2001,”From Wash D.C. Longworth building October 4, 1994. Mandela’s first trip to the United States.”,CC BY-SA 2.0,Nelson Mandela 1994 – Nelson Mandela – Wikipedia
- July 18, 1918 – December 5, 2013
- Born in South Africa
- Politician, lawyer
- The first black president of South Africa, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for abolishing apartheid and building a democratic South Africa where multiple ethnic groups coexist.
Quote
“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?”
Explanation
This quote from Nelson Mandela challenges the commonly held belief that success is solely a result of individual effort, talent, or inherent qualities such as strength, endurance, and commitment. Mandela’s question is a rhetorical one, highlighting the systemic factors that often play a more significant role in a person’s ability to succeed. He was likely speaking from his own experience, having faced immense obstacles throughout his life—not only as a political prisoner but also as a Black man fighting against a system of apartheid that systematically denied him and others access to opportunities. The implication here is that success is not always a matter of personal merit but can be deeply influenced by privilege, social conditions, and access to resources.
Historically, this quote aligns with Mandela’s life-long struggle against the deeply entrenched inequalities of apartheid. In a society where access to education, employment, and political power were reserved for the white minority, the achievements of Black South Africans were often not seen as a reflection of their talent or hard work, but of their perseverance in the face of systemic oppression. Mandela’s statement calls attention to the unfairness of a system that measured a person’s worth by their ability to overcome inherent disadvantages rather than providing equal opportunities to all people, regardless of race or background.
In modern times, this quote resonates with discussions on privilege and social inequality in various contexts, whether related to race, gender, economic background, or geographic location. It calls for a broader understanding of success that takes into account the structural advantages or disadvantages that shape an individual’s opportunities. In the current global conversation on equity, Mandela’s words challenge us to look beyond personal success and recognize the collective responsibilities to address the barriers faced by those who are less fortunate, ensuring that opportunities for success are available to all, not just those with the resources to capitalize on them.
