“The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself, often well beyond any latent ability you may have previously demonstrated. The mind is the athlete, the body is simply the means it uses to run faster or longer, jump higher, shoot straighter, kick better, swim harder, hit further, or box better.”
The quotation encompasses Peekay’s attitude towards determination and his own willpower. He believes in the strength of the mind rather than the ability of the physical body in that belief in oneself conquers every weakness. The mind is much more resilient than the body thus to push the body beyond its capability the mind has to take helm. Hence through this viewpoint, Peekay has been capable of enduring any hardship or obstacle, the school bullying, learning new skills, and defeating his boxing opponents. This assertion is narrated when he confronts an opponent who is much physically capable than he is but his willpower conquers as the audience also witnesses.
“First with the head, then with the heart, you'll be ahead from the start.”
This advice from his first mentor Hoppie becomes Peekay’s mantra all through his life journey. As an extension to ‘the power of one’ philosophy, the statement accentuates the strength of mind first followed by the strength of the human spirit. In that to stay ahead against any adversity is to incorporate your skills mentally and then follow with passion. Peekay utilizes this skill in his boxing training and matches which puts him ahead and makes him victorious.
“I learned that in each of us there burns a flame of independence that must never be allowed to go out. That as long as it exists within us we cannot be destroyed.”
This assertion emphasizes on the importance of individuality in conquering the obstacles that face each of us. Peekay feels as an outsider almost all his life thus rather than adjust he embraces his uniqueness which gives him his strong determination. This further alludes to the spirit of the nonwhite populace in South Africa that even with the oppression and prejudice they face their internal freedom should keep burning.
“Racism does not diminish with brains, it's a disease, a sickness, it may incubate in ignorance but it doesn't necessarily disappear with the gaining of wisdom!”
Racism is a significant part of the novel being it is set in 20th century South Africa during the adoption of apartheid. The statement expresses the prevalence of racism in an already intelligent and civilized society. Thus, acknowledges the ingrained nature of racism and how it cannot simply be overcome by rational thought since racists cannot get past the color of the skin. Peekay as an English South Africa faced discrimination from Afrikaans during his time in school. Furthermore, he has also witnessed the oppression of the nonwhite South Africans. Therefore, assesses its deep-rooted nature in people’s minds and it takes more than just knowledge to make it disappear.
