Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

58 Inspiring Thoughts & Quotations By Desmond Tutu, Who Endeavors To Make The World A Better Place

Famous As: First Black African Archbishop of Cape Town & Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Born On: October 7, 1931
Died On: December 26, 2021
Born In: Klerksdorp, South Africa
Founder / Co Founder: Tutu Foundation for Development and Relief
Died At Age: 90

When we speak of ‘racism’, many prominent leaders come to our mind. One such personality is Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He came under the limelight during the 1980s apartheid movement in South Africa. He was a great opponent of the Apartheid, and remained active in the defense of human rights and fought for the rights of the oppressed. He was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize, the Gandhi Peace Prize, the Sydney Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In his over four decades of public life, Desmond Tutu was quite vocal on several issues close to his heart. He has expressed his thoughts through his speeches, quotes, writings, columns and books. Some important issues that he shared his thoughts on include homosexuality and the Church, fashion, reconciliation, justice, apartheid, and sanctions. Here is a selection of some of his Desmond Tutu's quotes on a range of topics.

Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.

Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.

Desmond Tutu
Don't raise your voice, improve your argument.

Don't raise your voice, improve your argument." [Address at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 November 2004]

Desmond Tutu
We may be surprised at the people we find in heaven. God has a soft spot for sinners. His standards are quite low.

We may be surprised at the people we find in heaven. God has a soft spot for sinners. His standards are quite low.

Desmond Tutu
Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another.

Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another.

Desmond Tutu
When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said

When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said "Let us pray." We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.

Desmond Tutu
We learn from history that we don't learn from history!

We learn from history that we don't learn from history!

Desmond Tutu
When we see others as the enemy, we risk becoming what we hate. When we oppress others, we end up oppressing ourselves. All of our humanity is dependent upon recognizing the humanity in others.

When we see others as the enemy, we risk becoming what we hate. When we oppress others, we end up oppressing ourselves. All of our humanity is dependent upon recognizing the humanity in others.

Desmond Tutu
Like when you sit in front of a fire in winter — you are just there in front of the fire. You don't have to be smart or anything. The fire warms you.

Like when you sit in front of a fire in winter — you are just there in front of the fire. You don't have to be smart or anything. The fire warms you.

Desmond Tutu
If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.

Desmond Tutu
Language is very powerful. Language does not just describe reality. Language creates the reality it describes.

Language is very powerful. Language does not just describe reality. Language creates the reality it describes.

Desmond Tutu
Religion is like a knife: you can either use it to cut bread, or stick in someone's back.

Religion is like a knife: you can either use it to cut bread, or stick in someone's back.

Desmond Tutu
We are made for loving. If we don’t love, we will be like plants without water.

We are made for loving. If we don’t love, we will be like plants without water.

Desmond Tutu
You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.

Desmond Tutu
Dear Child of God, I am sorry to say that suffering is not optional.

Dear Child of God, I am sorry to say that suffering is not optional.

Desmond Tutu
There is nothing more difficult than waking someone who is only pretending to be asleep.

There is nothing more difficult than waking someone who is only pretending to be asleep.

Desmond Tutu
Though wrong gratifies in the moment, good yields its gifts over a lifetime.

Though wrong gratifies in the moment, good yields its gifts over a lifetime.

Desmond Tutu
Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring.

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring.

Desmond Tutu
We must be ready to learn from one another, not claiming that we alone possess all truth and that somehow we have a corner on God.

We must be ready to learn from one another, not claiming that we alone possess all truth and that somehow we have a corner on God.

Desmond Tutu
It is through weakness and vulnerability that most of us learn empathy and compassion and discover our soul.

It is through weakness and vulnerability that most of us learn empathy and compassion and discover our soul.

Desmond Tutu
A person is a person through other persons; you can't be human in isolation; you are human only in relationships.

A person is a person through other persons; you can't be human in isolation; you are human only in relationships.

Desmond Tutu
Our maturity will be judged by how well we are able to agree to disagree and yet continue to love one another, to care for one another, and cherish one another and seek the greater good of the other.

Our maturity will be judged by how well we are able to agree to disagree and yet continue to love one another, to care for one another, and cherish one another and seek the greater good of the other.

Desmond Tutu
Be nice to whites, they need you to rediscover their humanity.

Be nice to whites, they need you to rediscover their humanity.

Desmond Tutu
I wish I could shut up, but I can't, and I won't.

I wish I could shut up, but I can't, and I won't.

Desmond Tutu
Do a little bit of good wherever you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world

Do a little bit of good wherever you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world

Desmond Tutu
There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river.

We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.

There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.

Desmond Tutu
God is not a Christian.

God is not a Christian.

Desmond Tutu
Life is more than breath and a heartbeat; meaning and purpose are the life of life.

Life is more than breath and a heartbeat; meaning and purpose are the life of life.

Desmond Tutu
To be neutral in a situation of injustice is to have chosen sides already. It is to support the status quo.

To be neutral in a situation of injustice is to have chosen sides already. It is to support the status quo.

Desmond Tutu
We are not responsible for what breaks us, but we can be responsible for what puts us back together again. Naming the hurt is how we begin to repair our broken parts.

We are not responsible for what breaks us, but we can be responsible for what puts us back together again. Naming the hurt is how we begin to repair our broken parts.

Desmond Tutu
God is not a diversion.

God is not a diversion.

Desmond Tutu
I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.

I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.

Desmond Tutu
To forgive is not just to be altruistic.

To forgive is not just to be altruistic.

Desmond Tutu
To treat anyone as if they were less than human, less than a brother or a sister, no matter what they have done, is to contravene the very laws of our humanity.

To treat anyone as if they were less than human, less than a brother or a sister, no matter what they have done, is to contravene the very laws of our humanity.

Desmond Tutu
There is something in us that refuses to be regarded as less than human. We are created for freedom

There is something in us that refuses to be regarded as less than human. We are created for freedom

Desmond Tutu
My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.

My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.

Desmond Tutu
A person is a person because s/he recognizes others as persons.

A person is a person because s/he recognizes others as persons.

Desmond Tutu
My message to the international community is that our silence and complicity especially on the situation in Gaza shames us all. It is almost like the behaviour of the military junta in Burma

My message to the international community is that our silence and complicity especially on the situation in Gaza shames us all. It is almost like the behaviour of the military junta in Burma

Desmond Tutu
When your dreams turn to dust, vacuum.

When your dreams turn to dust, vacuum.

Desmond Tutu
Renewing a relationship is a creative act. We make a new relationship. It is possible to build a new relationship regardless of the realities of the old relationship.

Renewing a relationship is a creative act. We make a new relationship. It is possible to build a new relationship regardless of the realities of the old relationship.

Desmond Tutu
True peace must be anchored in justice and an unwavering commitment to universal rights for all humans, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, national origin or any other identity attribute.

True peace must be anchored in justice and an unwavering commitment to universal rights for all humans, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, national origin or any other identity attribute.

Desmond Tutu
In our own ways, we are all broken. Out of that brokenness, we hurt others. Forgiveness is the journey we take toward healing the broken parts. It is how we become whole again.

In our own ways, we are all broken. Out of that brokenness, we hurt others. Forgiveness is the journey we take toward healing the broken parts. It is how we become whole again.

Desmond Tutu
People are not born hating each other and wishing to cause harm. It is a learned condition.

People are not born hating each other and wishing to cause harm. It is a learned condition.

Desmond Tutu
We are always at our best when compassion enables us to recognize the unique pressures and singular stories of the people on the other side of our conflicts.

We are always at our best when compassion enables us to recognize the unique pressures and singular stories of the people on the other side of our conflicts.

Desmond Tutu
I would like to share with you two simple truths: there is nothing that cannot be forgiven, and there is no one un-deserving of forgiveness.

I would like to share with you two simple truths: there is nothing that cannot be forgiven, and there is no one un-deserving of forgiveness.

Desmond Tutu
One of the most blasphemous consequences of injustice, especially racist injustice, is that it can make a child of God doubt that he or she is a child of God.

One of the most blasphemous consequences of injustice, especially racist injustice, is that it can make a child of God doubt that he or she is a child of God.

Desmond Tutu
There is a certain kind of dignity we admire, and to which we aspire, in the person who refuses to meet anger with anger, violence with violence, or hatred with hatred.

There is a certain kind of dignity we admire, and to which we aspire, in the person who refuses to meet anger with anger, violence with violence, or hatred with hatred.

Desmond Tutu
It is true that when we harm others, we harm ourselves; but it is just as true that when we help others, we also help ourselves.

It is true that when we harm others, we harm ourselves; but it is just as true that when we help others, we also help ourselves.

Desmond Tutu
Healing means that our dignity is restored and we are able to move forward in our lives.

Healing means that our dignity is restored and we are able to move forward in our lives.

Desmond Tutu
We shall be free only together, black and white. We shall survive only together, black and white. We can be human only together, black and white.

We shall be free only together, black and white. We shall survive only together, black and white. We can be human only together, black and white.

Desmond Tutu
My first point seems overwhelmingly simple: that the accidents of birth and geography determine to a very large extent to what faith we belong.

My first point seems overwhelmingly simple: that the accidents of birth and geography determine to a very large extent to what faith we belong.

Desmond Tutu
It is small comfort to a mouse, if an elephant is standing on its tail, to say 'I am impartial.' In this instance, you are really supporting the elephant in its cruelty.

It is small comfort to a mouse, if an elephant is standing on its tail, to say 'I am impartial.' In this instance, you are really supporting the elephant in its cruelty.

Desmond Tutu
Somewhere deep inside us we seem to know that we are destined for something better than strife.

Somewhere deep inside us we seem to know that we are destined for something better than strife.

Desmond Tutu
Do not heal in isolation. Connecting with others is how we develop compassion for others and for ourselves.

Do not heal in isolation. Connecting with others is how we develop compassion for others and for ourselves.

Desmond Tutu
In the sentiment of Mahatma Gandhi, when we practice the law of an eye for an eye, we all end up blind.

In the sentiment of Mahatma Gandhi, when we practice the law of an eye for an eye, we all end up blind.

Desmond Tutu
Forgiveness is nothing less than the way we heal the world. We heal the world by healing each and every one of our hearts. The process is simple, but it is not easy.

Forgiveness is nothing less than the way we heal the world. We heal the world by healing each and every one of our hearts. The process is simple, but it is not easy.

Desmond Tutu
The quality of human life on our planet is nothing more than the sum total of our daily interactions with one another. Each time we help, and each time we harm, we have a dramatic impact on our world.

The quality of human life on our planet is nothing more than the sum total of our daily interactions with one another. Each time we help, and each time we harm, we have a dramatic impact on our world.

Desmond Tutu
Without forgiveness, there's no future.

Without forgiveness, there's no future.

Desmond Tutu
Order to truly forgive oneself, one must either explicitly or implicitly acknowledge that one’s behavior was wrong and accept responsibility or blame for such behavior.

Order to truly forgive oneself, one must either explicitly or implicitly acknowledge that one’s behavior was wrong and accept responsibility or blame for such behavior.

Desmond Tutu