"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite"

Nelson Mandela’s words reveal a powerful truth about human nature and the origins of prejudice. Hatred, whether directed at someone’s skin color, cultural roots, or religious beliefs, is not an instinct, but rather a learned behavior. People are not inherently biased or hostile toward those who are different from themselves. Instead, these divisions emerge from external influences: family, society, media, and institutions that perpetuate stereotypes or fears. If such negative attitudes are adopted through experience and teaching, it suggests that they are neither fixed nor inevitable.

Learning to hate requires time and intention, which means that unlearning hatred is equally possible. The process of education is central to both behaviors. If individuals can be conditioned to despise, they can also be educated to embrace, respect, and love others regardless of difference. Mandela’s insight instills hope in the possibility of change and reconciliation. Human hearts, he argues, are attuned far more naturally to love than to hate. Compassion and empathy are intrinsic to our shared humanity, and children enter the world with innate openness to others.

The reference to love as a more natural state emphasizes that positive emotions and solidarities are fundamental to human relationships. Prejudice, though widespread, is abnormal to our innate condition and requires explicit reinforcement to persist. By focusing on the capacity for love, Mandela challenges societies to reconsider their teaching: what messages are passed on, what values are promoted, and what kind of world is being shaped for future generations.

His message serves as a moral imperative. Instead of accepting division and animosity as unchangeable aspects of the human condition, there is an obligation to cultivate understanding, compassion, and unity. By doing so, it becomes possible to disrupt cycles of hatred and build societies based on justice and mutual respect, aligning ourselves with the deeper currents of the human heart.