I remember we adjourned for lunch and a friendly Afrikaner warder asked me the question, 'Mandela, what do you think is going to happen to you in this case?' I said to him, 'Agh, they are going to hang us.' Now, I was really expecting some word of encouragement from him. And I thought he was going to say, 'Agh man, that can never happen.' But he became serious and then he said, 'I think you are right, they are going to hang you.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A warder confirmed Mandela's fear of execution, showing the gravity of his situation.
- In plain terms
- His guard agreed they might hang him, making the threat real.
- What can you take from it?
- Honest confirmation of risks helps face reality without illusion.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Are you hiding from a hard truth?
- How do you prepare for worst outcomes?
Another view
Hearing the truth about danger may destroy hope prematurely.
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