A truly Great man has left the earth, through his deeds we will keep him alive in our thoughts forever and ever.

 

We have lost one of the true giants of the past century.

But in our loss is the realization that thanks to him, we have all gained something.

For in bringing down the evil of apartheid, Mandela raised us up; his wisdom, patience, compassion and insistence on reconciliation make us aspire to be better people.

In his determination to break from the chains of the past,

he allowed us all to join him as the masters of our fate and the captains of our souls.