You have been having our rights so long, that you think, like a slave-holder, that you own us. I know that it is hard for one who has held the reins for so long to give up; it cuts like a knife. It will feel all the better when it closes up again. Sojourner Truth
About This Quote

The statement, "I know that it is hard for one who has held the reins for so long to give up; it cuts like a knife. It will feel all the better when it closes up again." is in reference to former South African president, Nelson Mandela , who spent most of his adult life in prison. The quote was made when Mandela was asked about the feelings he felt upon finally being released. Mandela was released on February 11, 1990 after spending 27 years in prison, during which time he became the leader of the African National Congress (ANC). The quote also suggests that Mandela felt that he had lost his freedom, but that it would soon be restored.

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