Some thought-provoking quotes and sayings from Desmond Mpilo Tutu, South African Anglican Archbishop Emeritus. Populary referred to as “South Africa’s moral conscience.“
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. ~Desmond Tutu
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. ~Desmond Tutu
I don’t preach a social gospel; I preach the Gospel, period. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is concerned for the whole person. 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
You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu
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
I am a leader by default, only because nature does not allow a vacuum. ~Desmond Tutu
A person is a person because he recognizes others as persons. ~Desmond Tutu
We may be surprised at the people we find in heaven. God has a soft spot for sinners. His standards are quite low. ~Desmond Tutu
Be nice to whites, they need you to rediscover their humanity. ~Desmond Tutu
When a pile of cups is tottering on the edge of the table and you warn that they will crash to the ground, in South Africa you are blamed when that happens. ~Desmond Tutu