Quote

Reconciliation is a long process. We don't have the kind of race clashes that we thought would happen. What we have is xenophobia, and it's very distressing. But maybe you ought to be lenient with us. We've been free for just 12 years.

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
Free
Xenophobia
Process
Distressing
Happens
Clash
Thought
Reconciliation
Long
Ought
Kind
Happen
Years
Maybe
Clashes
Would
Race
Lenient

More quotes by Desmond Tutu

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I think that most of us would prefer to be popular than unpopular.
Desmond Tutu
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I've often been a little concerned by people who say they are color-blind, people who claim, in some ways, not to be aware of race, and I hope that those who will be looking for a vision of the future will be a little more honest, and say race actually does matter.
Desmond Tutu
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But God can only smile because only God can know what is coming next.
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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Despite all of the ghastliness in the world, human beings are made for goodness. The ones that are held in high regard are not militarily powerful, nor even economically prosperous. They have a commitment to try and make the world a better place.
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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Niger is not an isolated island of desperation. It lies within a sea of problems across Africa - particularly the 'forgotten emergencies' in poor countries or regions with little strategic or material appeal.
Desmond Tutu
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God is trying to woo us into a love affair with God.
Desmond Tutu
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It is quite exhilarating to speak about a God who has an incredible bias, a notorious bias in favor of the downtrodden. You look at Exodus and the Israelites' escape from a bottomless pit. God is not evenhanded. God is biased up to his eyebrows.
Desmond Tutu
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I don't know any religion that promotes violence. It is the adherents of whatever religion.
Desmond Tutu
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Sometimes you want to whisper in God's ear, God, we know you are in charge, but why don't you make it slightly more obvious?
Desmond Tutu
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Ubuntu tells us that we can create a more peaceful world by striving for goodness in each moment, wherever we are.
Desmond Tutu
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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.
Desmond Tutu
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Nuclear abolition is the democratic wish of the world's people, and has been our goal almost since the dawn of the atomic age. Together, we have the power to decide whether the nuclear era ends in a bang or worldwide celebration.
Desmond Tutu
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In South Africa, we could not have achieved our freedom and just peace without the help of people around the world, who through the use of non-violent means, such as boycotts and divestment, encouraged their governments and other corporate actors to reverse decades-long support for the Apartheid regime.
Desmond Tutu
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Jesus could weep. Sometimes when you look at the ugliness that makes you weep, you know that the heart of God is also weeping. Jesus is for real. He does not give up on anyone, least of all on me.
Desmond Tutu
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We must stop climate change. And we can, if we use the tactics that worked in South Africa against the worst carbon emitters.
Desmond Tutu
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The sad problem is that we see ourselves as being quite terribly small. Instead of spending my time being envious, I need to celebrate your and my different gifts, even if mine are perhaps less spectacular than yours.
Desmond Tutu
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For goodness sake, will they hear, will white people hear what we are trying to say? Please, all we are asking you to do is to recognize that we are humans, too.
Desmond Tutu
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A person who is assured of the love of God will see his fellow men in a different light and treat them and himself differently, and of course this also applies to business leaders.
Desmond Tutu