‘… time in jail was not wasted. He had gone to jail as an angry, frustrated young activist. In prison the fires of adversity purified him and removed the dross; the steel was tempered. He learned to be more generous in his judgment of others, being gentle with their foibles. It gave him a new depth and serenity at the core of his being, and made him tolerant and magnanimous to a fault, more ready to forgive than to nurse grudges – paradoxically regal and even arrogant, and at the same time ever so humble and modest’. – Desmond Tutu, ‘Setting Free the Past’, Oliver R. Tambo Lecture delivered at Georgetown University.
jasongoroncy.com 
Thanks for posting this Jason.
Geoff
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Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela are two of the most remarkable human beings on the planet. Their vision of humanity is enriched not by an abstract idea of humanity, but by a profound respect for human beings. And Tutu has gone some way to explaining how Mandela got there, despite all the other choices that could have been made towards bitterness and lifelong resentment. Thanks for this post Jason. By the way, did you get my email confirming that I’d received yet another sign of your generosity?
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Glad you liked this post Jim. Yes I did get your email. Glad you received the mysterious package.
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It is of course true that Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela are two of the greatest human beings alive and to have lived. I feel priveliged to have lived at the same time. My play about Desmond Tutu and the TRC is to be previewed at the Amnesty International Theatre in London towards the end of November and then at The Soho Theatre next February/March. If anyone not in London wishes to read it simply e.mail me and I will send it.
Michael
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