Johannesburg: In his decades spent fighting for freedom and equality, Nelson Mandela inspired and challenged the world to stand up for others.
As word of Mandela's death spread, current and former presidents, athletes and entertainers, and people around the world spoke out about the life and legacy of the former South African leader.
Some like former US President Jimmy Carter had personal connections with Mandela.
The two worked closely through a group of global leaders - The Elders - that Mandela formed in 2007 to promote human rights.
Others only knew Mandela from afar but shared how they drew strength from his strength and looked to live his message of continuing the struggle against social injustice and for human rights.
Carter, who promotes human rights in working through the Atlanta-based Carter Center promotes human rights, said the people of South Africa and human rights advocates around the world had lost a great leader.
"His passion for freedom and justice created new hope for generations of oppressed people worldwide, and because of him, South Africa is today one of the world's leading democracies," Carter said.
In Washington, the first African-American president of the United States, Barack Obama, declared that he world has lost an influential, courageous and `profoundly good' man with the death of the anti-apartheid icon.
Obama said Mandela "no longer belongs to us. He belongs to the ages."
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