“Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfill themselves.”
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
“Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfill themselves.”
Explanation
This quote from Nelson Mandela speaks to the holistic freedom that he believed was essential for every individual in a post-apartheid South Africa. Mandela’s vision of freedom was not merely about the absence of physical oppression, but about the total liberation of the body, the mind, and the soul. In the context of apartheid, Black South Africans were subjected to not only physical constraints—through laws and segregation—but also to psychological oppression that denied them their full potential. Mandela’s message here is one of empowerment and self-realization. Once freedom was achieved, it was meant to allow individuals to fully engage with their physical health, intellectual growth, and spiritual development—areas of life that had been stifled by the oppressive apartheid regime.
Historically, this quote reflects the broader goals of the ANC and Mandela’s own philosophy of nation-building. After years of brutal repression, South Africans—particularly the Black majority—had been denied access to the resources that would enable them to realize their potential. Education, employment, land ownership, and freedom of expression were systematically restricted. Mandela’s statement implies that true liberation meant not just political rights, but the ability for individuals to explore and express their full humanity, which could only occur in a just and democratic society. The quote embodies the ANC’s commitment to reconciliation, education, and economic empowerment as cornerstones of a new South Africa.
In modern terms, this quote resonates with the idea of holistic development in a society that seeks to break down the barriers of inequality. It emphasizes that freedom is more than just political autonomy—it is about providing the conditions for people to thrive mentally, physically, and spiritually. In today’s world, it speaks to ongoing struggles for universal access to education, healthcare, and mental well-being, which are seen as essential for human flourishing. Mandela’s words continue to inspire leaders, educators, and activists to think beyond mere legal equality, focusing instead on the full empowerment of individuals in all aspects of their lives.
