"I think a legitimate target is the enemy and [the] enemy is basically in uniform, but not all [are] in Uniform. For example in the rural areas, our judgement is that virtually the whole farming community is part of the South African Defence Force."
From an interview with the BBC World Service, 4 July 1986.

"When a man has been consistently battering his wife, he shouldn't expect a bouquet of roses from her the morning after he promises to stop."
From an interview by Gaye Davis, 11 February 1991.

"You can't go to a negotiating table pointing a gun, but you've got to keep it over your shoulder."
From an interview by Gaye Davis, 11 February 1991.

"It's not difficult in South Africa for the ordinary person to see the link between capitalism and racist exploitation, and when one sees the link one immediately thinks in terms of a socialist alternative."
From an interview by Gaye Davis, 11 February 1991.

"He knew when to compromise. Yet he never compromised his principles. He was a militant. Yet a militant who knew how to plan, assess concrete situations and emerge with rational solutions to problems."
From Nelson Mandela's eulogy for Joe Slovo, 15 January 1995.