“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

“Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.”

“A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamed of.”

“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”

Nelson Mandela

Without a doubt, it is more than safe to assume that there will never be such a gentleman as Nelson Mandela, or at least none anytime soon. Nevertheless, that indisputable reality should not deter the contemporary gentleman from embracing Mandela’s indomitable spirit.  To be sure, if the contemporary gentleman were to extract but a modicum of wisdom from Mandela’s life, it would be this: Conduct your life appropriately with a meaningful purpose that serves humanity. Sure, you may not reach the stratospheric heights of a Nelson Mandela – that is a pretty lofty objective. However, you can definitely make an impact upon your surrounding community. And perhaps, your service can inspire a future Mandela; or a future Malcolm X or Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. You just never know. Trust, the world begs for more stewards of charity and service. You would be a welcome addition.