My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.
Interpretation
Our shared humanity connects us, and we can fully experience our humanity only in relation to others.
Desmond Tutu's quote emphasizes the interconnectedness of human beings, suggesting that our individual humanity is intrinsically linked to the humanity of others. It highlights the importance of relationships and community in achieving a fuller understanding of what it means to be human, reinforcing the idea that we thrive through mutual support and compassion.
In practice
In a speech about community service, I might say, 'As Desmond Tutu said, 'My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.'
The fossil reserves that have already been discovered exceed what can ever be safely used. Yet companies spend half a trillion dollars each year searching for more fuel. They should redirect this money toward developing clean energy solutions
As much as the world has an instinct for evil and is a breeding ground for genocide, holocaust, slavery, racism, war, oppression, and injustice, the world has an even greateer instinct for goodness, rebirth, mercy, beauty, truth, freedom and love.
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.
Children are a wonderful gift. They have an extraordinary capacity to see into the heart of things and to expose sham and humbug for what they are.
Religion is like a knife: you can either use it to cut bread, or stick in someone's back.
Gaza is going to test who believes in the worth of human beings.
Today is my anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. Please pray for me and all priests.
It is exhausting knowing that most of the time the phone rings, most of the time there's an email, most of the time there's a letter, someone wants something of you.
A lot of cases, what makes you an interesting and complex person makes you a really horrible person to be with romantically.
[For constructive conflict,] we have to resist the neurobiological drive which means that we really prefer people mostly like ourselves.
Society is no comfort, to one not sociable.
In the course of a marriage, one accommodates the other.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.