“Forgiving is not forgetting; its actually
remembering--remembering and not using your right to hit back. Its a
second chance for a new beginning. And the remembering part is
particularly important.”
“Life is more than breath and a heartbeat; meaning and purpose are the life of life."
(p.75 Made For Goodness: And Why that Makes All the Difference)
(p.75 Made For Goodness: And Why that Makes All the Difference)
“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.”
“A life of wholeness does not depend on what we experience. Wholeness depends on how we experience our lives.”
“To forgive is not just to be altruistic.”
“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.”
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits
of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
“Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are
different precisely in order to realize our need of one another.”
"A person is a person because he recognizes others as persons.
"Children are a wonderful gift. They have an extraordinary
capacity to see into the heart of things and to expose sham
and humbug for what they are.
"Do your little bit of good where you are; its those
little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.
"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."
"There are different kinds of justice. Retributive justice is largely Western. The African understanding is far more restorative - not so much to punish as to redress or restore a balance that has been knocked askew."
"Resentment and anger are bad for your blood pressure and your digestion."
"Without forgiveness there can be no future for a relationship between individuals or within and between nations."
"South Africa, so utterly improbably, is a beacon of hope in a dark and troubled world."
“My father always used to say, "Don't raise your voice. Improve your argument." Good sense does not always lie with the loudest shouters, nor can we say that a large, unruly crowd is always the best arbiter of what is right.”
“Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another.”
“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.”
“We learn from history that we don't learn from history!”
“Don't raise your voice, improve your argument.”
“Language is very powerful. Language does not just describe reality. Language creates the reality it describes.”
“Though wrong gratifies in the moment, good yields its gifts over a lifetime.”
“A person is a person through other persons; you can't be human in isolation; you are human only in relationships.”
“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.”
Early Life
Desmond Tutu was born in Klerksdorp, Transvaal on October 7, 1931. He was educated at Johannesburg Bantu High School originally hoping to become a physician, but because of his poor conditions, his parents could not afford to send him to medical school. As a result he became a teacher, following in his father’s footsteps, and graduated from the University of South Africa in 1954. During the period of Apartheid, the government intentionally established an inferior education system for black students; after three years as a high school teacher Tutu became so frustrated that he could no longer work as a teacher. He began his studies in theology aiming toward the goal of Anglican priesthood; he was ordained as a priest in 1960.
Public Life
Tutu devoted the years 1962-66 to further theological study in England, where he earned his master’s degree in theology. He then returned to South Africa to teach theology for five years before heading back to England to serve as an assistant director of the World Council of Churches (a theological institute) in London. In 1975, Tutu was appointed to be Dean of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Johannesburg, the first black African to be given this honor. Tutu became the Bishop of Lesotho from 1976 to 1978, and in 1978 he became the first black General Secretary of the South African Council of the Churches. He described Apartheid as “evil and unchristian,” calling for equality in rights and education among all South Africans. He encouraged resistance to Apartheid, and soon came to be an international figure.
Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, to express support for his work and leadership in the South African Council of Churches as well as a way to honor all South Africans with concern for human dignity, fraternity, and democracy.* In 1986, Tutu became the Archbishop of Cape Town, once again being the first black African to hold this position. With his gaining renown and several positions as a religious leader, the South African government was forced to reform. 1991 saw the annulment of discriminatory laws particular to Apartheid. Archbishop Tutu was appointed the chair of Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1994 by Nelson Mandela, president of South Africa at the time.** Tutu retired from being Archbishop of Cape Town in 1996, and took on the name Archbishop Emeritus.
*See Works: South Africa/Apartheid for more info
**Click here for Tutu's page on the Nobel Prize website
Recent Years
Desmond Tutu was named chair of the group called The Elders, made up of several senior world leaders, in 2007. In 2009, United States President Barack Obama honored him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. (Visit Honors & Awards for more info.) After taking on the name Archbishop Emeritus, Tutu spent some time giving speeches in America; Tutu visited a Professor of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia for two years.
On his 79th birthday, October 7, 2010, Archbishop Tutu retired from his public life. (Click here for a New Yorks Times article on Tutu's retirement.)
Interesting fact: The only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace prizewinners is in Soweto. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both have houses on Vilakazi Street in Soweto.
(http://www.larktours.com/50-interesting-facts-about-south-africa)
Interesting fact: The world's largest diamond was the Cullinan Diamond, found in South Africa in 1905. It weighed 3,106.75 carats uncut. It was cut into the Great Star of Africa, weighing 530.2 carats, the Lesser Star of Africa, which weighs 317.40 carats, and 104 other diamonds of nearly flawless color and clarity. They now form part of the British crown jewels.
(http://www.larktours.com/50-interesting-facts-about-south-africa)
Interesting fact: South Africa is placed third in the world for providing safe and clean tap water.
(http://www.larktours.com/50-interesting-facts-about-south-africa)
Clare Zhou Jacquelyn Ho Linda Qin
Why We Chose Archbishop Tutu
Works Cited