Desmond Mpilo Tutu was a South African Anglican bishop. He was widely known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996 and was the first black African to hold the position. In 1984, he received the Nobel Prize for Peace for his role in the opposition to apartheid in South Africa.
Desmond Tutu was born on 7 October 1931. Even though he wanted a medical career, Tutu was unable to afford the required education and instead became a schoolteacher. In 1972 he served as an associate director for the World Council of Churches and further was promoted to the general secretary of the South African Council of Churches. He was one of the leading activists standing against the apartheid. He emphasized nonviolent means of protests and economic pressure by other countries. He died on 26 December 2021.
1 You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. -Desmond Tutu
We have no say over who our family is. We’re blessed with them when we walk into this world. Being a family means being there for each other despite our differences.
2 Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. -Desmond Tutu
However dark the times may seem, there’s always light hidden somewhere. We just have to look for it in the right place. Hope is how we find the light and make it through to the other side.
3 Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning. -Desmond Tutu
Forgiveness helps us let go of bitterness and negativity in our hearts. By giving them another chance, you’re redeeming and letting go of the hate and grudge in your heart. You’re healing yourself by forgiving.
4 Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. -Desmond Tutu
We can all do our part in making the world a better place. Even the tiniest bit of good that we do contributes to bringing goodness into the world. All these tiny acts of kindness by people is enough to overwhelm the world.
5 My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together. -Desmond Tutu
If one’s freedom and rights are intruded upon by another, they can never fully enjoy the extent of their humanity. We can only be human as a collective society and not individually.
6 Dear Child of God, I am sorry to say that suffering is not optional. -Desmond Tutu
Suffering is never optional. It’s something that all of us have to go through. We only grow by experiencing pain and suffering through adversities.
7 Without forgiveness, there’s no future. -Desmond Tutu
Forgiving someone who’s wronged us brings peace to our soul. Holding a grudge is like drinking poison. It slowly kills us from the inside.
8 The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. -Desmond Tutu
Freedom, if practiced without boundaries, will only give rise to chaos and violence. Freedom without limitations is not real freedom. True freedom has to be practiced such that no one is given the liberty to intrude upon another person’s freedom.
9 It is through weakness and vulnerability that most of us learn empathy and compassion and discover our soul. -Desmond Tutu
Only through our weaknesses do we understand compassion and empathy. When we’re weak and in pain, we learn to be empathetic towards others in the future.
10 Religion is like a knife: you can either use it to cut bread, or stick in someone’s back. -Desmond Tutu
Religion can be used for the good of others as well as for the bad. While it can bring peace and hope to people, it is also being used by some to divide and hurt people.
11 We are made for loving. If we don’t love, we will be like plants without water. -Desmond Tutu
It is in human nature to love others. Without love, our souls will be empty and dark. We’ll be missing out on the most important parts of what makes us human.
12 Though wrong gratifies in the moment, good yields its gifts over a lifetime. -Desmond Tutu
Walking down a path of evil is easy and brings instant gratification and rewards. But in the long run, it’ll only harm you. The path of righteousness is full of pain and suffering but it’s gifts come over a lifetime.
13 Life is more than breath and a heartbeat; meaning and purpose are the life of life. -Desmond Tutu
Life isn’t about just surviving. It’s about finding a purpose and meaning that makes living worthwhile. If you are just going through life for the sake of it, there’s no point to any of it.
14 Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument. -Desmond Tutu
It’s easy to raise your voice and sound intimidating but it’s the work of cowards and fools. Improve your argument by finding proofs to back your statements. That’s what the wise do.
15 Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another. -Desmond Tutu
We’re all different from each other and that’s not something that should divide us. There’s a merit in that diversity. It’s what makes our society so beautiful and capable of so much. By being different, we have all kinds of people who can meet the needs of each other.
15 Thoughtful Bishop Desmond Tutu Quotes To Make You Think
1. You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. -Desmond Tutu
2. Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. -Desmond Tutu
3. Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning. -Desmond Tutu
4. Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. -Desmond Tutu
5. My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together. -Desmond Tutu
6. Dear Child of God, I am sorry to say that suffering is not optional. -Desmond Tutu
7. Without forgiveness, there’s no future. -Desmond Tutu
8. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. -Desmond Tutu
9. It is through weakness and vulnerability that most of us learn empathy and compassion and discover our soul. -Desmond Tutu
10. Religion is like a knife: you can either use it to cut bread, or stick in someone’s back. -Desmond Tutu
11. We are made for loving. If we don’t love, we will be like plants without water. -Desmond Tutu
12. Though wrong gratifies in the moment, good yields its gifts over a lifetime. -Desmond Tutu
13. Life is more than breath and a heartbeat; meaning and purpose are the life of life. -Desmond Tutu
14. Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument. -Desmond Tutu
15. Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another. -Desmond Tutu