Chinua Achebe Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by Chinua Achebe

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Chinua Achebe Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Chinua Achebe on Wise Famous Quotes.

Chinua Achebe quotes: The women are, of course, the biggest single group of oppressed people in the world and, if we are to believe the Book of Genesis, the very oldest. The women are, of course, the biggest single group of oppressed people in the world and, if we are to believe the Book of Genesis, the very oldest.
Chinua Achebe quotes: While we do our good works let us not forget that the real solution lies in a world in which charity will have become unnecessary. While we do our good works let us not forget that the real solution lies in a world in which charity will have become unnecessary.
Chinua Achebe quotes: [H]e developed a private philosophy of total self-reliance, an unyielding internal sufficiency that requires no external support from others. [H]e developed a private philosophy of total self-reliance, an unyielding internal sufficiency that requires no external support from others.
Chinua Achebe quotes: The relationship with my people, the Nigerian people, is very good. My relationship with the rulers has always been problematic. The relationship with my people, the Nigerian people, is very good. My relationship with the rulers has always been problematic.
Chinua Achebe quotes: For whom is it well, for whom is it well.There is no one for whom it is well. For whom is it well, for whom is it well.
There is no one for whom it is well.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Villages that their leaders came together to save themselves. Villages that their leaders came together to save themselves.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without perching. Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without perching.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Serious and good art has always existed to help, to serve, humanity. Not to indict. Serious and good art has always existed to help, to serve, humanity. Not to indict.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Fortunately, among these people a man was judged according to his worth and not according to the worth of his father. Fortunately, among these people a man was judged according to his worth and not according to the worth of his father.
Chinua Achebe quotes: ...Nothing puzzles God ...Nothing puzzles God
Chinua Achebe quotes: Privilege, you see, is one of the great adversaries of the imagination; it spreads a thick layer of adipose tissue over our sensitivity. Privilege, you see, is one of the great adversaries of the imagination; it spreads a thick layer of adipose tissue over our sensitivity.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Real tragedy is never resolved. It goes on hopelessly for ever. Real tragedy is never resolved. It goes on hopelessly for ever.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Women and music should not be dated. Women and music should not be dated.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Living fire begets cold, impotent ash. He Living fire begets cold, impotent ash. He
Chinua Achebe quotes: A man's life from birth to death was a series of transition rites which brought him nearer and nearer to his ancestors. A man's life from birth to death was a series of transition rites which brought him nearer and nearer to his ancestors.
Chinua Achebe quotes: When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground. When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Men have learned to shoot without missing their mark and I have learned to fly without perching on a twig. Men have learned to shoot without missing their mark and I have learned to fly without perching on a twig.
Chinua Achebe quotes: The only thing we have learnt from experience is that we learn nothing from experience. The only thing we have learnt from experience is that we learn nothing from experience.
Chinua Achebe quotes: He who brings kola brings life. He who brings kola brings life.
Chinua Achebe quotes: To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength. To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength.
Chinua Achebe quotes: In my definition I am a protest writer, with restraint. In my definition I am a protest writer, with restraint.
Chinua Achebe quotes: If you only hear one side of the story, you have no understanding at all. If you only hear one side of the story, you have no understanding at all.
Chinua Achebe quotes: As long as one people sit on another and are deaf to their cry, so long will understanding and peace elude all of us. As long as one people sit on another and are deaf to their cry, so long will understanding and peace elude all of us.
Chinua Achebe quotes: What kind of power was it if it would never be used? What kind of power was it if it would never be used?
Chinua Achebe quotes: As our fathers said, you can tell a ripe corn by its look. As our fathers said, you can tell a ripe corn by its look.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Do you blame a vulture for perching over a carcass? Do you blame a vulture for perching over a carcass?
Chinua Achebe quotes: The emperor would prefer the poet to keep away from politics, the emperor's domain, so that he can manage things the way he likes. The emperor would prefer the poet to keep away from politics, the emperor's domain, so that he can manage things the way he likes.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Nobody can teach me who I am. Nobody can teach me who I am.
Chinua Achebe quotes: The writer cannot expect to be excused from the task of re-education and re-generation that must be done. In fact, he should march right in front. The writer cannot expect to be excused from the task of re-education and re-generation that must be done. In fact, he should march right in front.
Chinua Achebe quotes: The language of young men is pull down and destroy; but an old man speaks of conciliation. The language of young men is pull down and destroy; but an old man speaks of conciliation.
Chinua Achebe quotes: A boy sent by his father to steal does not go stealthily but breaks the door with his feet. A boy sent by his father to steal does not go stealthily but breaks the door with his feet.
Chinua Achebe quotes: A chief does not hurry. A chief does not hurry.
Chinua Achebe quotes: The singer should sing well even if it is merely to himself, rather than dance badly for the whole world. The singer should sing well even if it is merely to himself, rather than dance badly for the whole world.
Chinua Achebe quotes: I am against people reaping where they have not sown. But we have a saying that if you want to eat a toad you should look for a fat and I am against people reaping where they have not sown. But we have a saying that if you want to eat a toad you should look for a fat and juicy one.
Chinua Achebe quotes: What is modesty but inverted pride? What is modesty but inverted pride?
Chinua Achebe quotes: A goat does not eat into a hen's stomach no matter how friendly the two may be. A goat does not eat into a hen's stomach no matter how friendly the two may be.
Chinua Achebe quotes: After a war life catches desperately at passing hints of normalcy like vines entwining a hollow twig. After a war life catches desperately at passing hints of normalcy like vines entwining a hollow twig.
Chinua Achebe quotes: What a country needs to do is be fair to all its citizens - whether people are of a different ethnicity or gender. What a country needs to do is be fair to all its citizens - whether people are of a different ethnicity or gender.
Chinua Achebe quotes: And so Mr. Brown came to be respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on its faith. And so Mr. Brown came to be respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on its faith.
Chinua Achebe quotes: The fly that no one to advise it follows the corpse into the grave. The fly that no one to advise it follows the corpse into the grave.
Chinua Achebe quotes: anger against a kinsman was felt in the flesh, not in the marrow anger against a kinsman was felt in the flesh, not in the marrow
Chinua Achebe quotes: Do not be in a hurry to rush into the pleasures of the world like the young antelope who danced herself lame when the main dance was yet to come. Do not be in a hurry to rush into the pleasures of the world like the young antelope who danced herself lame when the main dance was yet to come.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten. Okoye Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten. Okoye
Chinua Achebe quotes: My weapon is literature My weapon is literature
Chinua Achebe quotes: Stories are not always innocent; ... they can be used to put you in the wrong crowd, in the party of the man who has come to dispossess you. Stories are not always innocent; ... they can be used to put you in the wrong crowd, in the party of the man who has come to dispossess you.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Whatever music you beat on your drum there is somebody who can dance to it. Whatever music you beat on your drum there is somebody who can dance to it.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Whenever you see a toad jumping in broad daylight, then know that something is after its life. Whenever you see a toad jumping in broad daylight, then know that something is after its life.
Chinua Achebe quotes: A snake was never called by its name at night, because it would hear. It was called a string. A snake was never called by its name at night, because it would hear. It was called a string.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Each of my books is different. Deliberately ... I wanted to create my society, my people, in their fullness. Each of my books is different. Deliberately ... I wanted to create my society, my people, in their fullness.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Nobody can teach me who I am. You can describe parts of me, but who I am - and what I need - is something I have to find out Nobody can teach me who I am. You can describe parts of me, but who I am - and what I need - is something I have to find out myself.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Looking at a king's mouth, ' said an old man, 'one would think he never sucked at his mother's breast. Looking at a king's mouth, ' said an old man, 'one would think he never sucked at his mother's breast.
Chinua Achebe quotes: People from different parts of the world can respond to the same story if it says something to them about their own history and their own experience. People from different parts of the world can respond to the same story if it says something to them about their own history and their own experience.
Chinua Achebe quotes: A toad does not run in the daytime for nothing A toad does not run in the daytime for nothing
Chinua Achebe quotes: Every lizard lies on its belly, so we cannot tell which has a belly-ache Every lizard lies on its belly, so we cannot tell which has a belly-ache
Chinua Achebe quotes: When a new saying gets to the land of empty men, they lose their heads over it. When a new saying gets to the land of empty men, they lose their heads over it.
Chinua Achebe quotes: If one finger brings oil it soils the others. If one finger brings oil it soils the others.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered. As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings. Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered. As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter. Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Americans, it seems to me, tend to protect their children from the harshness of life, in their interest. Americans, it seems to me, tend to protect their children from the harshness of life, in their interest.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Procrastination is a lazy man's apology. Procrastination is a lazy man's apology.
Chinua Achebe quotes: [Would] a sensible man spit out the juicy morsel that good fortune put in his mouth? [Would] a sensible man spit out the juicy morsel that good fortune put in his mouth?
Chinua Achebe quotes: One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised. One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Ghana and Nigeria resented each other and competed for supremacy in every sphere - politics, academia, sports, you name it. Ghana and Nigeria resented each other and competed for supremacy in every sphere - politics, academia, sports, you name it.
Chinua Achebe quotes: A child cannot pay for its mother's milk. A child cannot pay for its mother's milk.
Chinua Achebe quotes: The man that brings ant-infested faggots into his hut should not grumble when lizards begin to pay him a visit. The man that brings ant-infested faggots into his hut should not grumble when lizards begin to pay him a visit.
Chinua Achebe quotes: There is nothing to fear from someone who shouts. There is nothing to fear from someone who shouts.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Wisdom is like a goatskin bag; every man carries his own. Wisdom is like a goatskin bag; every man carries his own.
Chinua Achebe quotes: A man who makes trouble for others is also making trouble for himself. A man who makes trouble for others is also making trouble for himself.
Chinua Achebe quotes: No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children (and especially his women) he was not really a man. No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children (and especially his women) he was not really a man.
Chinua Achebe quotes: You do not know me,' said Tortoise. 'I am a changed man. I have learned that a man who makes trouble for others makes trouble for himself. You do not know me,' said Tortoise. 'I am a changed man. I have learned that a man who makes trouble for others makes trouble for himself.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Art is man's constant effort to create for himself a different order of reality from that which is given to him. Art is man's constant effort to create for himself a different order of reality from that which is given to him.
Chinua Achebe quotes: An artist, in my understanding of the word, should side with the people against the Emperor that oppresses his or her people. An artist, in my understanding of the word, should side with the people against the Emperor that oppresses his or her people.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Africa is to Europe as the picture is to Dorian Gray-a carrier onto whom the master unloads his physical & moral deformities Africa is to Europe as the picture is to Dorian Gray-a carrier onto whom the master unloads his physical & moral deformities
Chinua Achebe quotes: That we are surrounded by deep mysteries is known to all but the incurably ignorant. That we are surrounded by deep mysteries is known to all but the incurably ignorant.
Chinua Achebe quotes: Nigera is what it is because its leaders are not what they should be. Nigera is what it is because its leaders are not what they should be.
Chinua Achebe quotes: A disease that has never been seen before cannot be cured with every-day herbs. A disease that has never been seen before cannot be cured with every-day herbs.
Chinua Achebe quotes: A kinsman in trouble had to be saved, not blamed; anger against a brother was felt in the flesh, not in the bone. A kinsman in trouble had to be saved, not blamed; anger against a brother was felt in the flesh, not in the bone.
Chinua Achebe quotes: No man however great is greater than his people No man however great is greater than his people
Chinua Achebe quotes: It is difficult to express the reality of Ibo society in classical English. It is difficult to express the reality of Ibo society in classical English.
Chinua Achebe quotes: I don't care about age very much. I don't care about age very much.