Who Said It Best: Stringer Bell or Nelson Mandela?

The power of words.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom opened this weekend, bringing former South African President Nelson Mandela's life story to the big screen. Idris Elba plays Mandela, channeling the same commanding presence that has made his work in everything from the The Wire to Luther so memorable.

Speaking of The Wire, it was Elba's performance as drug kingpin Russell "Stringer" Bell that earned him his initial acclaim. Bell, who kept a copy of The Wealth of Nations in his personal library, wanted more than drug game could offer, dreaming of laundering dirty money into a legitimate empire. He was as insightful as he was ruthless and remains one of The Wire's most revered characters.

Which is why we're pairing quotes from Mandela and Bell to find out said it best.

Written by Julian Kimble (@JRK316)

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