Quotes about Compassion
But just as we do not forgive for others, we also do not forgive for God.
— Desmond Tutu
We need rituals for all traumas and loss, whether it is betrayal or infidelity or violence or murder. Ritual helps us heal, and ritual helped me heal and become ready to consider the person who murdered Angela, his story, his pain.
— Desmond Tutu
Peace always comes to those who choose to forgive.
— Desmond Tutu
I would love to know who killed my father. So would my brother." Her next words stunned me and left me breathless. "We want to forgive them. We want to forgive, but we don't know who to forgive.
— Desmond Tutu
I'm actually very humbled listening to His Holiness,' the Archbishop said, 'because I've frequently mentioned to people the fact of his serenity and his calm and joyfulness. We would probably have said 'in spite of' the adversity, but it seems like he's saying 'because of' the adversity that this has evolved for him.
— Desmond Tutu
Like humility, generosity comes from seeing that everything we have and everything we accomplish comes from God's grace and God's love for us… Certainly it is from experiencing this generosity of God and the generosity of those in our life that we learn gratitude and to be generous to others.
— Desmond Tutu
Forgiveness is not a choice you make for someone else; it is a choice you make for yourself.
— Desmond Tutu
Each of us has the capacity to commit the wrongs against others that were committed against us. Although I might say, "I would never . . ." genuine humility will answer, "Never say never." Rather say, "I hope that, given the same set of circumstances, I would not . . ." But can we ever really know?
— Desmond Tutu
We do not need to succumb to the temptation to meet such a violation with retaliation. The only way to heal this hurt is to give voice to what ails us. It is only in this way that we can keep our pain and loss from taking root inside us. It is only in this way that we have a chance for freedom.
— Desmond Tutu
Only in restoring the web of connection can we find peace. I'm sure it is possible to heal in a mountaintop cave alone, but for most of us the quickest and deepest healing happens in the embrace of others.
— Desmond Tutu
Forgiveness among the members of older generations could open the door to healthy and supportive relationships among younger generations.
— Desmond Tutu
The Archbishop was pointing his index fingers at his head. "You learn when something happens that tests you." And then he was pretending to be speaking as God might. "'Hello, you said you wanted to be more compassionate.' 'Hello, you wanted to be a little more laid-back.
— Desmond Tutu