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.
TUTU DESMONDLike 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.
More Tutu Desmond Quotes
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We are fragile creatures, and it is from this weakness, not despite it, that we discover the possibility of true joy.
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A person is a person through other persons.
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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.
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Language is very powerful. Language does not just describe reality. Language creates the reality it describes.
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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.
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If you are setting out to be joyful you are not going to end up being joyful. You’re going to find yourself turned in on yourself. It’s like a flower. You open, you blossom, really because of other people.
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Within every hopeless situation and every seemingly hopeless person lies the possibility of transformation
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Transformation begins in you, wherever you are, whatever has happened, however you are suffering. Transformation is always possible.
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Dear Child of God, I am sorry to say that suffering is not optional.
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God is transforming the world now–through us–because God loves us.
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To protect our children, we must talk to them about rape.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Out of the cacophony of random suffering and chaos that can mark human life, the life artist sees or creates a symphony of meaning and order.
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Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.
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Forgiveness does not relieve someone of responsibility for what they have done. Forgiveness does not erase accountability. It is not about turning a blind eye or even turning the other cheek.
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When we see others as separate, they become a threat. When we see others as part of us, as connected, as interdependent, then there is no challenge we cannot face—together.
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There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream to find out why they’re falling in.
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We are made for goodness. We are made for love. We are made for friendliness. We are made for togetherness. We are made for all of the beautiful things that you and I know.
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We have hardship without becoming hard. We have heartbreaks without being broken.
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It is through weakness and vulnerability that most of us learn empathy and compassion and discover our soul.
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We are made for loving. If we don’t love, we will be like plants without water.
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I wish I could shut up, but I can’t, and I won’t.
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If you want to keep people subjugated, the last thing you place in their hands is a Bible. There’s nothing more radical, nothing more revolutionary, nothing more subversive against injustice and oppression than the Bible.
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Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument.
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