Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu was born on October 7, 1931, in Munsieville, South Africa. A South African citizen throughout his life, he worked in English across his overlapping roles as a cleric, Protestant theologian, political activist, and non-fiction writer.
Tutu served as an archbishop and dedicated a substantial part of his career to opposing apartheid, working as an anti-apartheid activist and human rights defender. His efforts drew recognition from institutions and governments around the world. He received the Nobel Peace Prize, the Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Order of Jamaica. Academic honors followed as well, with honorary doctorates awarded by Harvard University, the University of Portland, and Strasbourg-III University — a spread of recognition that reflected how widely his work as a human rights defender was acknowledged beyond South Africa's borders.
Tutu remained a South African citizen his entire life, and his career kept him connected to the country where he had built his public roles as churchman, activist, and writer. He died on December 26, 2021, in Cape Town.
Quotes by Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu's insights on:
The moment our dignity is undermined, we get up in arms and want to see our dignity restored especially if we are humiliated.
My existence is caught up and inextricably bound up with yours ... A solitary human being is a contradiction in terms.
Twenty-five years ago people could be excused for not knowing much, or doing much, about climate change. Today we have no excuse.
The world's forests are a shared stolen treasure that we must put back for our children's future.
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.
Arrogance really comes from insecurity, and in the end our feelingthat we are bigger than others is really the flip side of our feeling that we are smaller than others.
You should never hate yourself for hating others who do terrible things: the depth of your love is shown by the extent of your anger.
