Quote

Consider what we sometimes do with our children: We imbue them with this sense, very early on, that they have got to succeed. We are not content that they just do well, they have got to wipe the floor with the opposition.

Desmond Tutu

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Desmond Tutu
Age: 93
Born: 1931
Born: October 7
Activist
Anglican Priest
Non-Fiction Writer
Archbisphop Desmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu
Sense
Imbue
Wells
Wipe
Well
Floor
Sometimes
Opposition
Children
Content
Consider
Early
Succeed

More quotes by Desmond Tutu

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Too frequently we think we have to do spectacular things. Yet if we remember that the sea is actually made up of drops of water and each drop counts, each one of us can do our little bit where we are. Those little bits can come together and almost overwhelm the world. Each one of us can be an oasis of peace.
Desmond Tutu
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At home in South Africa I have sometimes said in big meetings where you have black and white together: 'Raise your hands!' Then I have said: 'Move your hands,' and I've said 'Look at your hands - different colors representing different people. You are the Rainbow People of God.'
Desmond Tutu
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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.
Desmond Tutu
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In most, when you go to church, most churches when they have images of the good shepherd, they show Jesus carrying a nice fluffy lamb. Now fluffy little lambs don't stray from their mommy's. The sheep that will stray is the most obstreperous, troublesome one.
Desmond Tutu
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The minute you got the Nobel Peace Prize, things that I said yesterday, with nobody paying too much attention, I say the same things after I got it - oh! It was quite crucial for people, and it helped our morale because apartheid did look invincible.
Desmond Tutu
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We must return to the fundamentals the fundamentals being that you count. That is where you start from. That you count you matter for God. That is a fantastic realization, and one that very few of us actually get to accept.
Desmond Tutu
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God has been incredible in creating us to be persons.
Desmond Tutu
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When people were hungry, Jesus didn't say, Now is that political or social? He said, I feed you. Because the good news to a hungry person is bread.
Desmond Tutu
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There are two forms of justice. There is what is called retributive justice and there is restorative justice.
Desmond Tutu
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Forgiveness is abandoning your right to revenge.
Desmond Tutu
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Life is funny and we are really funny, especially when we get to be hoity toity we can be so ridiculous. Life is fun.
Desmond Tutu
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Do your little bit of good where you are.
Desmond Tutu
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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.
Desmond Tutu
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Resentment and anger are bad for your blood pressure and your digestion.
Desmond Tutu
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I wish that we did have a magic wand which we could wave and hey presto! Magic! Unfortunately life is not like that.
Desmond Tutu
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It is for real that injustice and oppression will not have the last word. There was a time when Hitler looked like he was going to vanquish all of Europe, and where is he now?
Desmond Tutu
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Even the worst dictator, there is not a single one of them who would say Oh yes, I violate human rights. They all claim oh no, we respect human rights even when they are doing the most egregious things.
Desmond Tutu
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If I diminish you, I diminish myself
Desmond Tutu
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I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven.
Desmond Tutu
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Our lives are a response to a love that we already have received.
Desmond Tutu