Our maturity will be judged by how well we are able to agree to disagree and yet continue to love one another, to care for one another, and cherish one another and seek the greater good of the other.
Interpretation
Maturity is demonstrated by our ability to accept differing opinions while maintaining love and care for one another.
This quote by Desmond Tutu highlights the importance of maturity in human relationships, particularly in how we handle disagreements. It suggests that true maturity is not about avoiding conflict but rather about agreeing to disagree respectfully, while still prioritizing love, care, and the well-being of others. This mindset fosters harmony and understanding, even in the face of differing views.
In practice
This quote can be shared during a community meeting to encourage respectful discussions.
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.
One of the things I try to work with white people on is letting go of our criteria about how people of color give us feedback. We have to build our stamina to just be humble and bear witness to the pain we've caused.
Typically, we get annoyed when our spouses complain. We get defensive. But, really, when your spouse complains, he or she is giving you wonderful information about what would make him or her feel loved.
You don't learn how to say 'hey, I have a problem,' but you also don't learn how to hear it. There's a total breakdown of how females talk to one another. It's very disconcerting for leadership because it means you don't talk to each other; you talk about each other.
To be friends with God means to pray with simplicity, like children talking to their parents.
The discovery that heartbreak is indeed heartbreaking consoles us about our humanity.
Laila has moved on. Because in the end she knows that’s all she can do. That and hope.
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