“I look at an ant and see myself: a native South African, endowed with a strength much greater than my size, so I might cope with the weight of racism that crushes my spirit.”
As quoted in Nkrumah, Gamal (1–7 November 2001)
Al-Ahram Weekly interview (2001)
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Miriam Makeba 19
South African singer and civil rights activist 1932–2008Related quotes
“If I have to worry about the ants I crush beneath my feet, I couldn't even walk around”
Source: Berserk, Vol. 1
1860s, Speech to Germans at Cincinnati, Ohio (1861), Commercial version
“For I am the size of what I see
not my height's size.”
Attributed to the Caeiro alter ego, in A Factless Autobiography, Richard Zenith Edition, Lisbon, 2006, p. 71
The Book of Disquiet
Original: Porque eu sou do tamanho do que vejo
e não do tamanho da minha altura.
Life and Campaigns of General Robert E. Lee https://books.google.com/books?id=BDkDAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false (1866) page 30. Responding to Francis Preston Blair relayed an offer to make him major-general to command the defense of Washington D.C.
1860s
“My fellow South Africans — the people of South Africa:
This is indeed a joyous night.”
1990s, Victory speech (1994)
Context: My fellow South Africans — the people of South Africa:
This is indeed a joyous night. Although not yet final, we have received the provisional results of the election, and are delighted by the overwhelming support for the African National Congress.
To all those in the African National Congress and the democratic movement who worked so hard these last few days and through these many decades, I thank you and honour you. To the people of South Africa and the world who are watching: this a joyous night for the human spirit. This is your victory too. You helped end apartheid, you stood with us through the transition.
“When I look out at all these young women, I see myself. In so many ways your story is my story.”
As quoted in "Prince Harry has Tea with Michelle Obama at Kensington Palace" in Parade (16 June 2015) https://parade.com/405676/roisinkelly/prince-harry-has-tea-with-michelle-obama-at-kensington-palace/; also in "Michelle Obama UK visit: 'When I look at young British Muslim women, I see myself'" by Mikey Smit, Mirror Online (16 June 2015) http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/michelle-obama-uk-visit-when-5892335 — the misquotation used in this particular headline was widely re-quoted as an actual quote of Michelle.
2010s