Source: 2003 Speech
Speaker: Nelson Mandela
Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world and Mindset Network is a powerful part of that world-changing arsenal.
Context
This line was spoken by Nelson Mandela in a speech in South Africa (July 16, 2003).
South Africa's former president, Nelson Mandela, uttered this famous line in a speech commemorating the launch of Mindset Network, a group working to improve education and health in South Africa. What could have become a no-big-deal presentation turned out to be one of the most quotable speeches from an infinitely quotable guy. It helps that Nelson Mandela was echoing ideas that are proven to be true—education is totally the key to a better future. Just ask your teachers.
Where you've heard it
This is the quote that sparked 1,000 classroom posters. Expect to hear it any time anyone is talking about the power of learning.
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
The children are our future! Who could think encouraging kids to put some knowledge in their brains is pretentious? You're good when you let this pearl of wisdom fly.
Nelson Mandela has rightly said that 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.' Yes, education is the key to eliminate all problems. If you want to grow and be sucessful then you need to be educated!
Education is an essential need!
Education provides you the tools to improve the quality of life in modern society both economically and sociologically. Education is power and no one can ever deny this fact. Education has the power to change your entire life. Starting from promoting gender equality to reducing poverty, it is one gesture in which you receive information and give systematic instructions in return.
So in order to be successful, you need education.
How does education change you?
Learning is a never-ending process, every human being keeps on learning till the end of life. Learning modifies your thinking capabilities and conception. Thus, your ideas keep changing due to it. You break the pre-conceived barriers with changing mindsets. This change helps you to interact with others. You feel free to express your ideas and this is how education changes you.
How does education change society?
Society is made of up different kinds of people and the mindset of each of them differs a lot. An educated one can guide to the right path in a better manner, he/she can come up with a variety of ideas which may be related to political participation, social equality or environmental sustainability. So it is pretty much clear that the power of knowledge can help you walk in the right path, take the right decision and can help you in bringing the change that you always wanted.
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Education helps you solve problems
Every problem comes with a solution but sometimes problem-solving can be difficult and tedious. An educated person will always try to find the answer to the questions 'what?', 'why?' and 'how?'. This very attitude will help him/her solve problems.
Education helps you fight poverty
Poverty and education are very much related to each other because people living in poverty may stop going to school so they can work, which leaves them without literacy and numeracy skills, which anyhow effects their careers. Hence, education increases individual earnings and put an end to your lifelong sufferings.
Education gives you courage to speak against injustice
The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any said Alice Walker.
Educated people know what is right and what is wrong. So if something is going wrong anywhere, then an educated person has the courage to raise voice against the injustice. Truly educated people will not refuse to stand up against injustice.
Even Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' in the 57th convocation of IIT said that education is a 'weapon' which can transform the lives of students, their families and society.
Hence it is rightly said that education can change people, communities, entire nations, and even the future of humanity.
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