QuoteProject
Men and boys, we show our manhood through the way we treat our women. Our wives, our sisters, our mothers.
Desmond Tutu
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

True manhood is demonstrated by respect and kindness towards women.

Desmond Tutu emphasizes that the measure of a man's character is reflected in how he treats the women in his life, including wives, sisters, and mothers. This perspective highlights the importance of respect and kindness as essential qualities of manhood, suggesting that a man's dignity comes not only from strength but also from compassion and consideration for others.

Themes

ManhoodRelationshipsRespectWomenKindness

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech advocating gender equality, one might say, 'As Desmond Tutu wisely noted, we show our manhood through the way we treat our women.'

More from Desmond Tutu

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
Desmond TutuRead
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.
Desmond TutuRead
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 TutuRead
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.
Desmond TutuRead
Religion is like a knife: you can either use it to cut bread, or stick in someone's back.
Desmond TutuRead
Gaza is going to test who believes in the worth of human beings.
Desmond TutuRead

Similar quotes

When thousands of people discover that their story is also someone else's story, they have the chance to write a new story together.
Eboo PatelRead
If we stop believing in a future, if we stop doing things for something else but start doing them for now, some fundamental things change. Retirement becomes less about how much money you can squirrel away now and much more a matter of participating and contributing to your own community now so that they want to take care of you. … We’re going to move into a world where your retirement will be more secure if you’ve made lots of friends with young people rather than collected lots of dollars.
Douglas RushkoffRead
If there is no order in your relationship with your wife, with your husband, with your children, with your neighbour - whether that neighbour is near or very far away - forget about meditation.
Jiddu KrishnamurtiRead
More than half of the complaints that patients bring to their doctors are emotional in origin. Most often, they include troubled or absent connections with loved ones.
Robert J. WaldingerRead
Why can't black women on stage tell stories that can affect white men in the audience?
Danai GuriraRead
I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love.
Leo BuscagliaRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.