African Philosophy Quotes Quotes

“The 7 Secrets of Happiness

1. Think positively.
2. Do work you love.
3. Avoid anger.
4. Give generously.
5. Be grateful.
6. Overcome negativity.
7. Develop thick skin.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“Anger has great strength,
but no brains.
Greed has many hands,
but no heart.
Fear has many titles,
but no honor.
Hatred has many forms,
but no soul.

Desire has great strength,
but no brains.
Agony has many hands,
but no heart.
Shame has many titles,
but no honor.
Ego has many forms,
but no soul.

Envy has great strength,
but no brains.
Malice has many hands,
but no heart.
Lust has many titles,
but no honor.
Evil has many forms,
but no soul.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“The ignorant learn from none,
the simple learn from some,
the intelligent learn from many,
but enlightened learn from all.

The arrogant learn from none,
the gracious learn from some,
the patient learn from many,
but the humble learn from all.

The disinterested learn from none,
the curious learn from some,
the keen learn from many,
but the disciplined learn from all.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“I am injustice,” said tyranny.
“I am lawlessness,” said corruption.
“I am inequality,” said bigotry.
“I am intolerance,” said racism.
“I am destruction,” said immorality.

“I am independence,” said freedom.
“I am fairness,” said justice.
“I am humanity,” said compassion.
“I am tolerance,” said understanding.
“I am restoration,” said goodness.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“When I see memories, I see the past.
When I see thoughts, I see the present.
When I see intentions, I see the future.

When I see regret, I see the past.
When I see hope, I see the present.
When I see expectation, I see the future.

When I see habits, I see the past.
When I see actions, I see the present.
When I see character, I see the future.

When I see karma, I see the past.
When I see chance, I see the present.
When I see destiny, I see the future.

When I see knowledge, I see the past.
When I see understanding, I see the present.
When I see wisdom, I see the future.

When I see elders, I see the past.
When I see adults, I see the present.
When I see children, I see the future.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“If they hate your race,
pardon them.
If they hate your religion,
enlighten them.
If they hate your gender,
admonish them.
If they hate your class,
avoid them.
If they hate your politics,
debate them.

If they hate your culture,
question them.
If they hate your tribe,
confront them.
If they hate your ancestry,
defy them.
If they hate your age,
outshine them.
If they hate your appearance,
disregard them.

If they love you for your knowledge,
teach them.
If they love you for your wisdom,
counsel them.
If they love you for your understanding,
instruct them.
If they love you for your intuition,
guide them.
If they love you for your excellence,
inspire them.

If they love you for your humility,
honor them.
If they love you for your compassion,
welcome them.
If they love you for your honesty,
value them.
If they love you for your kindness,
treasure them.
If they love you for your virtue,
cherish them.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“When you meet young people,
inspire them.
When you meet old people,
honor them.
When you meet wise people,
study them.
When you meet foolish people,
avoid them.

When you meet humble people,
treasure them.
When you meet arrogant people,
ignore them.
When you meet gracious people,
emulate them.
When you meet crude people,
disregard them.

When you meet brave people,
support them.
When you meet cowardly people,
encourage them.
When you meet strong people,
follow them.
When you meet weak people,
toughen them.

When you meet kind people,
esteem them.
When you meet cruel people,
oppose them.
When you meet virtuous people,
reward them.
When you meet evil people,
evade them.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“For me to heal,
I need you to heal.
For me to trust,
I need you to trust.
For me to be strong,
I need you to be strong.

For me to gain,
I need you to gain.
For me to win,
I need you to win.
For me to rise,
I need you to rise.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“I am fortitude,” said faith.
“I am contentment,” said peace.
“I am delight,” said joy.
“I am goodness,” said virtue.
“I am God,” said love.

“I am truth,” said knowledge.
“I am sight,” said understanding.
“I am perception,” said intelligence.
“I am prudence,” said wisdom.
“I am awareness,” said enlightenment.

“I am success,” said excellence.
“I am mastery,” said discipline.
“I am persistence,” said focus.
“I am influence,” said action.
“I am character,” said destiny.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“I was taught by family at ten.
I was taught by books at twenty.
I was taught by enemies at thirty.
I was taught by nature at forty.
I was taught by life at fifty.

At ten, I was foolish.
At twenty, I was naïve.
At thirty, I was alert.
At forty, I was experienced.
At fifty, I was wise.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“Teach the ignorant.
Study the wise.
Avoid the foolish.
Embrace the enlightened.

Conquer your vices.
Exploit your virtues.
Release your vices.
Embrace your higher self.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“The path to ignorance is wide.
The path to shallowness is smooth.
The path to understanding is bumpy.
The path to wisdom is narrow.
The path to ignorance is steep.

The path to vice is wide.
The path to pleasure is smooth.
The path to integrity is bumpy.
The path to innocence is narrow.
The path to paradise is steep.

The path to fear is wide.
The path to assurance is smooth.
The path to hope is bumpy.
The path to valor is narrow.
The path to faith is steep.

The path to sorrow is wide.
The path to desire is smooth.
The path to patience is bumpy.
The path to gratitude is narrow.
The path to humility is steep.

The path to strife is wide.
The path to indifference is smooth.
The path to peace is bumpy.
The path to joy is narrow.
The path to harmony is steep.

The path to error is wide.
The path to delusion is smooth.
The path to discovery is bumpy.
The path to truth is narrow.
The path to certainty is steep.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“Justice is the gateway to peace.
Education is the gateway to equality.
Patience is the gateway to tolerance.
Compassion is the gateway to mercy.

Certainty is the gateway to assurance.
Hope is the gateway to courage.
Contentment is the gateway to happiness.
Integrity is the gateway to virtue.

Need is the gateway to want.
Laughter is the gateway to health.
Pleasure is the gateway to enjoyment.
Love is the gateway to joy.

Life is the gateway to death.
Reality is the gateway to truth.
Harmony is the gateway to order.
Time is the gateway to eternity.

Intelligence is the gateway to wisdom.
Focus is the gateway to determination.
Insight is the gateway to understanding.
Knowledge is the gateway to enlightenment.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“There is a fine line between:
ego and confidence,
weakness and cowardice,
piety and self-righteousness,
lust and infatuation,
patience and procrastination,
contentment and apathy,
fear and hatred,
greed and ambition,
sin and pleasure,
want and need,
and hope and delusion.

There is also a fine line between:
sleep and death,
rest and idleness,
envy and desire,
noise and music,
sight and blindness,
respect and idolatry,
poverty and crime,
corruption and equality,
tyranny and despair,
religion and exploitation,
and freewill and destiny.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“Guilt is born in shame.
Error is born in speculation.
Chaos is born in confusion.
Anger is born in bitterness.
Wrath is born in rage.
Fear is born in mistrust.
Violence is born in intolerance.
Evil is born in ignorance.
Death is born in sin.

Want is born in need.
Mercy is born in compassion.
Peace is born in contentment.
Hope is born in confidence.
Meekness is born in strength.
Patience is born in long-suffering.
Integrity is born in goodness.
Decency is born in dignity.
Joy is born in love.

Fate is born in time.
Chance is born in fate.
Motion is born in rest.
Force is born in acceleration.
Distance is born in separation.
Curiosity is born in observation.
Consciousness is born in awareness.
Perception is born in understanding.
Reason is born in clarity.

Matter is born in space.
Light is born in darkness.
Sound is born in silence.
Wind is born in stillness.
Heat is born in motion.
Nature is born in chaos.
Harmony is born in confusion.
Energy is born in God.
Experience is born in time.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“Before I had a car, I had feet.
Before I had a telephone, I had prayer.
Before I had a degree, I had commonsense.
Before I had a diploma, I had curiosity.
Before I had knowledge, I had an opinion.
Before I had a reputation, I had a character.
Before I had a bodyguard, I had a friend.
Before I had a wife, I had a mother.
Before I had a son, I had a father.
Before I had a body, I had a mind.
Before I had a brain, I had a soul.
Before I had a memory, I had an experience.
Before I had a lifetime, I had a moment.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“The weak forgive none,
the strong forgive some,
the great forgive many,
and the enlightened forgive all.

Trust unites,
fear divides,
mercy heals,
and love conquers.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“The heart is a classroom,
the soul is a teacher,
the mind is a student,
and life is the exam.

The world is a university,
the universe is our professor,
wisdom is our homework,
and love is our final exam.

Life is an academy,
God is the instructor,
character is the assignment,
and virtue is the exam.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“The mind has greater power than a computer.
The heart has greater power than an engine.
The soul has greater power than a reactor.
The tongue has greater power than a sword.
The eye has greater power than a camera.
The ear has greater power than a recorder.

The feet are a greater invention than the car.
The hands are a greater invention than the carriage.
The nose is a greater invention than the vacuum.
The mouth is a greater invention than the megaphone.
The stomach is a greater invention than the refrigerator.
The skin is a greater invention than clothes.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“It's a nice big fat philosophical question, about: how do you get through? Sometimes you don't survive whole, you just survive in part. But the grandeur of life is that attempt. It's not about that solution. It is about being as fearless as one can, and behaving as beautifully as one can, under completely impossible circumstances. It's that, that makes it elegant. Good is just more interesting, more complex, more demanding. Evil is silly, it may be horrible, but at the same time it's not a compelling idea. It's predictable. It needs a tuxedo, it needs a headline, it needs blood, it needs fingernails. It needs all that costume in order to get anybody's attention. But the opposite, which is survival, blossoming, endurance, those things are just more compelling intellectually if not spiritually, and they certainly are spiritually. This is a more fascinating job. We are already born, we are going to die. So you have to do something interesting that you respect in between.”
― Toni Morrison

“If a disciple is old,
a master should be mature.
If a disciple is young,
a master should be accessible.
If a disciple is brave,
a master should be fearless.
If a disciple is shrewd,
a master should be wise.
If a disciple is strong,
a master should be powerful.
If a disciple is learned,
a master should be enlightened.

If a disciple is contented,
a master should be joyful.
If a disciple is faithful,
a master should be devoted.
If a disciple is tolerant,
a master should be peaceful.
If a disciple is intro inspective,
a master should be self-aware.
If a disciple is focused,
a master should be determined.
If a disciple is exceptional,
a master should be perfect.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“Wisdom has a mind.
Joy has a heart.
Love has a soul.

Awareness has a mind.
Discernment has a heart.
Consciousness has a soul.

Intention has a mind.
Desire has a heart.
Mindfulness has a soul.

Imagination has a mind.
Inspiration has a heart.
Passion has a soul.

Understanding has a mind.
Patience has a heart.
Humility has a soul.

Intellect has a mind.
Compassion has a heart.
Goodness has a soul.

Speech has a mind.
Silence has a heart.
Action has a soul.

Nature has a mind.
The world has a heart.
The universe has a soul.

Mankind has a mind.
Angels have a heart.
God has a soul.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“Acknowledge others,
and you will be acknowledged.
Welcome others,
and you will be welcomed.
Cherish others,
and you will be cherished.
Esteem others,
and you will be esteemed.

Despise others,
and you will be despised.
Reject others,
and you will be rejected.
Ignore others,
and you will be ignored.
Disregard others,
and you will be disregarded.

Hear others,
and you will be heard.
Understand others,
and you will be understood.
Help others,
and you be will be helped.
Love others,
and you will be loved.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“I must see my life as a process of becoming a person. It is not just that I change and grow. I am being built up, constructed. The change in me is a change in the roots of my being.”
― Agustine Shutte

“When the white man came to Africa he studied us. Our way of living and he was amazed by our way of living. The Blackman didn’t have the sense of ownership but what the Blackman had was sharing living together. The Blackman was the richest Man on the planet. Poverty drove the white man to Africa. If the white man had everything why travel? When the white man saw the Blackman he saw God himself. Imagine a white man looking at a Blackman lifting heavy loads. The resistance to the hot weather. The Blackman was not afraid of the white man. The Blackman welcomed the white man. The white man took advantage and thought that he was more clever than the Blackman. Studied us day and night till he got the formula. Here is the formula what is it a Blackman values the most? “Life” Blackman knew they were something bigger than himself. The easy way is to brainwash give him what he believes in a white man form. Jesus Christ is just the same as our Ancestors. Proof Blackman never prayed to the Creator direct but used their Ancestor's spirit to connect. Ancestors mean we had different Ancestors but did the same thing. Jesus was introduced Son of the Creator! Blackman can talk to the Creator through the Creator's Son. Better than our Ancestors because we can talk to the Creator through his Son. The Bible was or is the proof that Jesus once existed and now he is in spirit form like our Ancestors. The Blackman has stories written on stones not curved into the stone but painted with high-quality paint. Time is being used to brainwash the whole world. Our forefathers and our future generations will be waiting for Jesus Christ because no time limit is set. What the whole world knows is One Day he will come. Just like the Blackman knows one day his Ancestors will come to guide his future generation.”
― Gauteng Handyman

“A man who is afraid to die cannot be assigned the task to lead a nation that is willing to remain alive.”
― Kangoma Kindembo

“You can't live throughout life without mistakes.
They are bound to come,
You only lose when you tell yourself you lost.
You win when you tell yourself, you learned and grew.”
― Sir Oyoma Ojadonor

“Much like the roots of a palm tree, our journeys begin with humble beginnings. Just as patience nurtures the root, time and understanding cultivate the unique growth of each individual. Let patience be the gardener of growth.”
― Osborn Martin Gatugbe

“Development without inclusivity is a house built on sand”
― DJ Bwakali, Savannah Footprints: Wisdom Whispers from 100 African Leaders

“The transformative leader who overstays his welcome risks becoming the very monster he once fought.”
― DJ Bwakali, Savannah Footprints: Wisdom Whispers from 100 African Leaders