Nelson Mandela' s greatest pleasure, his most private moment, was watching the sun set with the music of Handel or Tchaikovsky playing.
Nelson
Mandela
'
s
greatest
pleasure
,
his
most
private
moment
,
was
watching
the
sun
set
with
the
music
of
Handel
or
Tchaikovsky
playing
.
Locked up in his cell during daylight hours, deprived of music, both these simple pleasures were denied him for decades.
Locked
up
in
his
cell
during
daylight
hours
,
deprived
of
music
,
both
these
simple
pleasures
were
denied
him
for
decades
.
With his fellow prisoners, concerts were organized when possible, particularly at Christmas time, where they would sing.
With
his
fellow
prisoners
,
concerts
were
organized
when
possible
,
particularly
at
Christmas
time
,
where
they
would
sing
.
Nelson Mandela found music very encouraging, and took a keen interest not only in European classical music but also in African choral music and the many talents in South African music.
Nelson
Mandela
found
music
very
encouraging
,
and
took
a
keen
interest
not
only
in
European
classical
music
but
also
in
African
choral
music
and
the
many
talents
in
South
African
music
.
But one voice stood out above all--- that of Paul Robeson, whom he described as our hero.
But
one
voice
stood
out
above
all
--
-
that
of
Paul
Robeson
,
whom
he
described
as
our
hero
.
The years in jail reinforce habits that were already formed: the disciplined diet of an athlete began in the 1940s, as did the early morning exercise.
The
years
in
jail
reinforce
habits
that
were
already
formed
:
the
disciplined
diet
of
an
athlete
began
in
the
1940s
,
as
did
the
early
morning
exercise
.
Even when he was over 80, Nelson Mandela would be up by 4:30 am, no matter how late he had worked the previous evening.
Even
when
he
was
over
80
,
Nelson
Mandela
would
be
up
by
4:30
am
,
no
matter
how
late
he
had
worked
the
previous
evening
.
By 5 am he had begun his exercise routine that lasted at least an hour.
By
5
am
he
had
begun
his
exercise
routine
that
lasted
at
least
an
hour
.
Breakfast was by 6:30, when the day' s newspapers were read.
Breakfast
was
by
6:30
,
when
the
day
'
s
newspapers
were
read
.
The day's work would begin.
The
day
's
work
would
begin
.
With a standard working day of at least 12 hours, time management was critical and Nelson Mandela was extremely impatient with unpunctuality, regarding it as rude to those you are dealing with.
With
a
standard
working
day
of
at
least
12
hours
,
time
management
was
critical
and
Nelson
Mandela
was
extremely
impatient
with
unpunctuality
,
regarding
it
as
rude
to
those
you
are
dealing
with
.
When speaking of the extensive traveling he had undertaken since his release from prison, Nelson Mandela said: "I was helped when preparing for my release by the biography of Pandit Nehru, who wrote of what happens when you leave jail.
When
speaking
of
the
extensive
traveling
he
had
undertaken
since
his
release
from
prison
,
Nelson
Mandela
said
:
``
I
was
helped
when
preparing
for
my
release
by
the
biography
of
Pandit
Nehru
,
who
wrote
of
what
happens
when
you
leave
jail
.
My daughter Zinzi says that she grew up without a father, who, when he returned, became a father of the nation.
My
daughter
Zinzi
says
that
she
grew
up
without
a
father
,
who
,
when
he
returned
,
became
a
father
of
the
nation
.
This has placed a great responsibility of my shoulders.
This
has
placed
a
great
responsibility
of
my
shoulders
.
And wherever I travel, I immediately begin to miss the familiar--- the mine dumps, the colour and smell that is uniquely South African, and, above all, the people.
And
wherever
I
travel
,
I
immediately
begin
to
miss
the
familiar
--
-
the
mine
dumps
,
the
colour
and
smell
that
is
uniquely
South
African
,
and
,
above
all
,
the
people
.
I do not like to be away for any length of time.
I
do
not
like
to
be
away
for
any
length
of
time
.
For me, there is no place like home."
For
me
,
there
is
no
place
like
home
.
''
Nelson Mandela' s greatest pleasure, his most private moment, was watching the sun set with the music of Handel or Tchaikovsky playing. Locked up in his cell during daylight hours, deprived of music, both these simple pleasures were denied him for decades. With his fellow prisoners, concerts were organized when possible, particularly at Christmas time, where they would sing. Nelson Mandela found music very encouraging, and took a keen interest not only in European classical music but also in African choral music and the many talents in South African music. But one voice stood out above all--- that of Paul Robeson, whom he described as our hero.  The years in jail reinforce habits that were already formed: the disciplined diet of an athlete began in the 1940s, as did the early morning exercise. Even when he was over 80, Nelson Mandela would be up by 4:30 am, no matter how late he had worked the previous evening. By 5 am he had begun his exercise routine that lasted at least an hour. Breakfast was by 6:30, when the day' s newspapers were read. The day's work would begin.  With a standard working day of at least 12 hours, time management was critical and Nelson Mandela was extremely impatient with unpunctuality, regarding it as rude to those you are dealing with. When speaking of the extensive traveling he had undertaken since his release from prison, Nelson Mandela said: "I was helped when preparing for my release by the biography of Pandit Nehru, who wrote of what happens when you leave jail.  My daughter Zinzi says that she grew up without a father, who, when he returned, became a father of the nation. This has placed a great responsibility of my shoulders. And wherever I travel, I immediately begin to miss the familiar--- the mine dumps, the colour and smell that is uniquely South African, and, above all, the people. I do not like to be away for any length of time. For me, there is no place like home."