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Letter on Valentine's Day (front)

The Nelson Mandela Foundation

The Nelson Mandela Foundation
Johannesburg, South Africa

The pages consists of handwritten notes by Nelson Mandela on Valentine's Day.

Page 1 of 2 of handwritten notes by Nelson Mandela on Valentine's Day.

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  • Title: Letter on Valentine's Day (front)
  • Date: 1995-02-13
  • Original Language: English
  • Transcript:
    Age and a conservative cultural background do not make it easy for me to discuss in public such intimate feelings or emotions. This is specially the case when the question is asked by one young enough to be a grandchild. It might well be that if one attempted a definition which departs from that which appears in the standard dictionaries, and bearing in mind the main forms of civilisation of the world, there may be as many definitions as there are human beings. 2 Bearing in mind my response to the first question, and all things being equal, I would hope that the average individual experiences one of the highest levels of emotional attachment, satisfaction and happiness when in love 3 My answer to the first question answers this question in the affirmative. 4. It will probably shock many people to discover how colossally ignorant I am about simple things the ordinary person takes for granted. Having been born and grown up in a rural environment with parents who could neither read nor write, one hardly ever heard about Valentine’s Day. Moving to the cities one was gradually drawn into mainstream policies, and there was little room for upgrading oneself with information on such issues. Only during the last five years did I receive valentine cards and gifts; But one must naturally
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  • Type: Letter
  • Repository: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory
  • Reference code: ZA COM NMPP-2009/8-2-Valentine, 28
  • Origination: Mandela, Nelson
  • Immediate source of acquisition or transfer: Deposited by Nelson Mandela
  • Finding aids: Finding aid available
  • Extent and Medium: 2 pages, 1 page
  • Creator: Mandela, Nelson
  • Conditions governing reproduction: Copyright held by the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory
  • Conditions governing access: Access by permission of the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory
  • Collection: Personal Letters
  • Alternate forms available: Digital copies available, Digital copy available
The Nelson Mandela Foundation

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