When were you happiest?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Desmond Tutu said elsewhere, not written here
Well, when in 1994 he was elected and I was given the privilege of introducing him to South Africa as our new president and to the world, I sort of whispered to God and said, “God, I don’t really mind now. I mean, if I die now, it would be almost the perfect moment.

Academy of Achievement interview source ↗

Others on this question

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Sue Johnston English actress
At the birth of my son, Joel, and then equally, last June, when my first grandchild, Rory, was born.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 January 2013 source ↗
Tess Daly English television presenter
Holding my two babies, Phoebe and Amber, for the first time.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 December 2016 source ↗

More from Desmond Tutu

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Question What problem are you still trying to solve? Craft & work
So a great deal has changed, but we in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission said, “Watch it. You can kiss reconciliation and forgiveness goodbye, unless the gap between the rich and the poor — the haves and the have-nots — is narrowed, and narrowed quickly and dramatically.” So yes, we face very, very considerable problems.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview source ↗
Question What inspires you to learn? Attention & the world
Ultimately, it’s a man who was teaching us English Literature in what we call matricula, the last 2 years of high school. He really was quite extraordinary. When he spoke of a Shakespearean play, you almost thought that he grew up with Shakespeare! He was very good, yes. A black guy who was fantastic and gave us a deep love for literature.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview source ↗
Question What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Time & hindsight
It is that you know that you are standing out in this crowd because you are being carried on the shoulders of others. You know, you may have the capacity to articulate their aspirations. That is maybe something special you might have. But what is a leader without followers? I mean you would have all of these interviews and people will not — would not necessarily want to follow. No, I am a great believer in the fact that everything is corporate. Everything is corporate and you — as a leader you are one who can coax the best out of others.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview source ↗
Question When was the last time you changed your mind about something? Change of mind
I used to be “Mister Disinvestment.” Now I would like to be Mister Investment and say, “Come! Come and be part of an exciting, exhilarating process. Come in! Come in on the ground floor and see a people do something that’s probably never happened before, people seeking to become something radically different from what their antecedents would have made us believe they were likely to become.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview source ↗
Question What advice would you give your twenty-year-old self, and what should they ignore? Time & hindsight
Dream. Dream. Dream. Be like God, dream because God believes in you young people. Most of God’s best collaborators and partners have been young people. Joseph, David, Jeremiah, St. Francis. They are young, young, young. And in many ways Jesus was young. Many of those who have been God’s best works — fellow workers have been young. And don’t allow oldies to fill you with their cynicism and disillusionment. Dream. Dream that this world can become better as you do dream, in fact. I mean, when these young people go off and work as Peace Corps and other volunteering groups in poverty stricken places where they don’t get any better headlines for dreaming the good things. Dream. Dream. Dream. Dream that this can be a world without poverty. Dream that this can be a world without war. Dream that this is a world that will recognize that every human being matters.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview source ↗

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