"History is a great teacher, but it never gives you a test."
This quote by Wilbur Smith emphasizes that understanding history provides valuable lessons without imposing any evaluative judgement or expectations. History serves as a guide, offering insights into the past events, people, and their impacts, allowing us to make informed decisions in the present. However, unlike a test where one is graded based on performance, historical knowledge doesn't come with an assessment or consequence. Instead, it equips us with wisdom that can help us navigate our own lives, although the application of this knowledge may not always be straightforward or easy.
"The wilderness has a magic and mystery all its own. No matter how badly I've been hacked about, when I get to Africa, I feel that here I am whole."
This quote suggests that Africa, or the wilderness more generally, holds a unique power and allure that can heal and restore one's sense of self. Despite life's hardships and difficulties, the raw, untamed nature of these places offers a sense of wholeness and healing. For Wilbur Smith, Africa appears to have this exceptional ability to mend his spirit and make him feel whole again.
"Courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
Wilbur Smith's quote highlights that courage is not about being devoid of fear, but rather, it's the ability to confront and conquer fear. A brave person is someone who feels fear yet presses on and overcomes it, making a conscious decision to act despite their apprehensions. This perspective underscores the human capacity for resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
"To a young Zulu warrior there is no greater honor than to die in battle with his spear still in his hand."
This quote emphasizes the deep-rooted cultural values among the Zulu people, particularly valuing martial courage and dignity above all else. The phrase "to die in battle with his spear still in his hand" signifies a heroic death in combat, symbolizing unyielding determination, bravery, and honor. It suggests that the young warrior's ultimate aspiration is to uphold these virtues and maintain his integrity in the face of adversity - even in the most severe and life-threatening circumstances. This quote offers a profound insight into the Zulu warrior code, which places significance on strength, valor, and the preservation of tradition.
"Adventure is worth more than safety, for safety is death without danger-soul-death which is far worse than the body's death."
Wilbur Smith's quote underscores the idea that living an adventurous life, characterized by risk and danger, offers a richer existence compared to one focused solely on safety. He suggests that the stifling pursuit of safety, devoid of excitement and adventure, amounts to a kind of "soul-death," which is more detrimental than physical death. In other words, living without challenge and growth can lead to a hollow, unfulfilling life. It encourages readers to embrace opportunities for growth, personal development, and the pursuit of passion, even if it means taking risks or facing challenges.
I wanted to be a great white hunter, a prospector for gold, or a slave trader. But then, when I was eight, my parents sent me to a boarding school in South Africa. It was the equivalent of a British public school with cold showers, beatings and rotten food. But what it also had was a library full of books.
- Wilbur Smith
I have done everything I have ever wanted to do. I have swum with tiger sharks, been charged by lions and elephants. I have been shot three times, chased by crocodiles and, God be praised, I've made enough money that I can continue to do all the things I want to for as long as I am able.
- Wilbur Smith
I'm not a good father and they're not children any more; the eldest is in his fifties. My relationship with their mothers broke down and, because of what the law was, they went with their mothers and were imbued with their mothers' morality in life and they were not my people any more.
- Wilbur Smith
At the age of 12 I won the school prize for Best English Essay. The prize was a copy of Somerset Maugham's 'Introduction To Modern English And American Literature.' To this day I keep it on the shelf between my collection of Forester's works and the little urn that contains my mother's ashes.
- Wilbur Smith
I used to own an island in the Seychelles and had a big boat there and one day I came across some Somali pirates who were passing by on their way to re-provision their boat. They didn't even acknowledge me - which is unheard of among sailors - and it was like looking into the eyes of a black mamba.
- Wilbur Smith
Quite frankly, I think political correctness is the worst form of censorship. You're not allowed to speak your mind unless you're black, or unless you're a terrorist, or unless you're an Arab or a minority people. Then you can say what you like. But if you are like a lot of us you are not supposed to say certain things.
- Wilbur Smith
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