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.
TUTU DESMONDOut 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.
More Tutu Desmond Quotes
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In the end generosity is the best way of becoming more, more, and more joyful.
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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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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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I do believe there are monstrous and evil acts, but I do not believe those who commit such acts are monsters or evil.
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A person is a person through other persons; you can’t be human in isolation; you are human only in relationships.
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Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another.
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Life of wholeness does not depend on what we experience. Wholeness depends on how we experience our lives
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A very important but difficult piece of renewing relationships is accepting responsibility for our part in any conflict.
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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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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.
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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.
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Within every hopeless situation and every seemingly hopeless person lies the possibility of transformation
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If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.
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Discovering more joy does not, save us from the inevitability of hardship and heartbreak.
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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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