Vision is most essential in times of hardship – Nelson Mandela

Ndaba Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, has expressed a sentiment closely aligned with the idea that vision is most essential in times of hardship. While there isn’t a single definitive quote attributed to him that exactly says “when times are hard, it is when you need vision the most,” he has consistently emphasized the importance of holding onto vision, values, and purpose, especially during difficult or uncertain periods.

In his book “Going to the Mountain: Life Lessons from My Grandfather, Nelson Mandela”, Ndaba writes about how his grandfather taught him that:

“You must have a clear sense of where you’re going, especially when life gets tough. When everything feels like it’s falling apart, that’s when your vision becomes your anchor.”

This echoes the core idea in Peter Senge’s Personal Mastery: that vision creates the tension necessary for growth—and when reality becomes especially harsh, it is that vision that allows a person to remain grounded, act with integrity, and move forward deliberately rather than reactively.