The authorities liked to say that we received a balanced diet; it was indeed balanced - between the unpalatable and the inedible.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Mandela sarcastically critiques the poor quality of prison food, noting it was only balanced because both options were inedible.
- In plain terms
- The food in prison was terrible, with nothing edible to eat.
- What can you take from it?
- Leaders often find humor in harsh prison conditions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does humor aid survival in hardship?
- What does food quality say about a prison system?
Another view
The brevity limits understanding of the broader prison context.
More from Nelson Mandela
The victory of democracy in South Africa is the common achievement of all humanity.
Permalink to quote #59 Prison itself is a tremendous education in the need for patience and perseverance. It is above all a test of one's commitment.
Permalink to quote #61 Any man that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose.
Permalink to quote #58
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