Julius Nyerere Quotes

12 Sourced Quotes

We are a poor country and we opted for socialist policies, but to build a socialist society you have to have a developed society.

Julius Nyerere
I have read and re-read the Arusha Declaration and found nothing wrong with it except perhaps replacing a few commas here and there... it was clear for some of us that it would only be a mad man who would stand up and defend the Arusha Declaration.

Julius Nyerere
Should we really let our people starve so we can pay our debts?

Julius Nyerere
If real development is to take place, the people have to be involved.

Julius Nyerere
Freedom to many means immediate betterment, as if by magic … Unless I can meet at least some of these aspirations, my support will wane and my head will roll just as surely as the tickbird follows the rhino.

Julius Nyerere
If a door is shut, attempts should be made to open it; if it is ajar, it should be pushed until it is wide open. In neither case should the door be blown up at the expense of those inside.

Julius Nyerere
The survival of our wildlife is a matter of grave concern to all of us in Africa. These wild creatures amid the wild places they inhabit are not only important as a source of wonder and inspiration but are an integral part of our natural resources and of our future livelihood and well-being.

Julius Nyerere
In Tanzania, it was more than one hundred tribal units which lost their freedom; it was one nation that regained it.

Julius Nyerere
Those who receive this privilege therefore, have a duty to repay the sacrifice which others have made. They are like the man who has been given all the food available in a starving village in order that he might have strength to bring supplies back from a distant place. If he takes this food and does not bring help to his brothers, he is a traitor. Similarly, if any of the young men and women who are given an education by the people of this republic adopt attitudes of superiority, or fail to use their knowledge to help the development of this country, then they are betraying our union.

Julius Nyerere
Democracy is not a bottle of Coca-Cola which you can import. Democracy should develop according to that particular country. I never went to a country, saw many parties and assumed that it is democratic. You cannot define democracy purely in terms of multi-partist parties.

Julius Nyerere
Our mistake was in the assumption that freedom – real freedom – would necessarily and with little trouble follow liberation from alien rule... Our countries are effectively being governed by people who have only the most marginal interest in our affairs.

Julius Nyerere
No nation has the right to make decisions for another nation; no people for another people.

Julius Nyerere