As a boy, Mandela's understanding of freedom was limited to his immediate, carefree world. He believed he was born free to run in the fields, swim in the stream, and ride the broad backs of bulls, provided he obeyed his father and the customs of his tribe.

As a student, he realized that his boyhood freedom was merely an illusion and that his actual freedom had been taken from him. At this stage, his desire for freedom was selfish and limited to transitory freedoms, such as staying out at night, reading what he pleased, and going where he chose.

As a young man in Johannesburg, his understanding deepened further. He yearned for the basic and honourable freedoms of achieving his potential, earning his keep, marrying, and living a lawful life without obstruction.

Finally, with age and experience, Mandela recognized that it was not just his freedom that was curtailed, but the freedom of everyone who looked like him. His personal hunger for freedom transformed into a greater hunger for the freedom of my people. He realized that freedom is indivisible; the chains on any of his people were the chains on all. Thus, his understanding evolved from personal, limited desires to a collective struggle for the dignity and liberation of his entire community.