Wole Soyinka quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Wole Soyinka

Wole Soyinka Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Wole Soyinka on Wise Famous Quotes.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Books and all forms of writing have always been objects of terror to those who seek to suppress the truth.

Books and all forms of writing have always been objects of terror to those who seek to suppress the truth.

Wole Soyinka quotes: We do not ask the mountain's aid to crack a walnut.

We do not ask the mountain's aid to crack a walnut.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I consider the process of gestation just as important as when you're actually sitting down putting words to the paper.

I consider the process of gestation just as important as when you're actually sitting down putting words to the paper.

Wole Soyinka quotes: The Lagos of my childhood was a well-laid-out maritime city.

The Lagos of my childhood was a well-laid-out maritime city.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I've done a lot of guerrilla theater in my time.

I've done a lot of guerrilla theater in my time.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Art is solace; art is vision, and when I pick up a literary work, I am a consumer of literature for its own sake.

Art is solace; art is vision, and when I pick up a literary work, I am a consumer of literature for its own sake.

Wole Soyinka quotes: The idea of having to make constant reference to politics is anathema to my calling as a writer.

The idea of having to make constant reference to politics is anathema to my calling as a writer.

Wole Soyinka quotes: The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.

The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I'm an Afro-realist. I take what comes, and I do my best to affect what is unacceptable in society.

I'm an Afro-realist. I take what comes, and I do my best to affect what is unacceptable in society.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I grew up in an atmosphere where words were an integral part of culture.

I grew up in an atmosphere where words were an integral part of culture.

Wole Soyinka quotes: The writer is the visionary of his people ... He anticipates, he warns.

The writer is the visionary of his people ... He anticipates, he warns.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Today, the constituency of fear has become much broader, far less selective

Today, the constituency of fear has become much broader, far less selective

Wole Soyinka quotes: If man cannot, what god dare claim perfection?

If man cannot, what god dare claim perfection?

Wole Soyinka quotes: Human life has meaning only to that degree and as long as it is lived in the service of humanity.

Human life has meaning only to that degree and as long as it is lived in the service of humanity.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I ceased using words like optimism and pessimism a long time ago.

I ceased using words like optimism and pessimism a long time ago.

Wole Soyinka quotes: A tiger doesn't proclaim its tigerness; it jumps on its prey

A tiger doesn't proclaim its tigerness; it jumps on its prey

Wole Soyinka quotes: Writers who open up horizons for other people are performing a function every bit as important as a consciously politicized writer.

Writers who open up horizons for other people are performing a function every bit as important as a consciously politicized writer.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Under a dictatorship, a nation ceases to exist. All that remains is a fiefdom, a planet of slaves regimented by aliens from outer space.

Under a dictatorship, a nation ceases to exist. All that remains is a fiefdom, a planet of slaves regimented by aliens from outer space.

Wole Soyinka quotes: We live in a materialist world, and materialism appeals so strongly to humanity, no matter where.

We live in a materialist world, and materialism appeals so strongly to humanity, no matter where.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I'm not fond of biographies. I don't like writing about myself.

I'm not fond of biographies. I don't like writing about myself.

Wole Soyinka quotes: No writer has a right to make that much money. Indeed, without diabolical assistance, no writer can.

No writer has a right to make that much money. Indeed, without diabolical assistance, no writer can.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I cannot belong to a nation which permits such barbarities as stoning to death and amputation - I don't care what religion it is.

I cannot belong to a nation which permits such barbarities as stoning to death and amputation - I don't care what religion it is.

Wole Soyinka quotes: A human feast is an indifferent morsel to a god.

A human feast is an indifferent morsel to a god.

Wole Soyinka quotes: A tiger does not shout its tigritude, it acts.

A tiger does not shout its tigritude, it acts.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Writing in certain environments carries with it an occupational risk.

Writing in certain environments carries with it an occupational risk.

Wole Soyinka quotes: A tiger doesn't proclaim his tigritude, he pounces

A tiger doesn't proclaim his tigritude, he pounces

Wole Soyinka quotes: I can look violence in the face and either reject or accept it.

I can look violence in the face and either reject or accept it.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Before you're a writer, you're a citizen, a human being, and therefore the weapons of the citizen are at your disposal to use or not use.

Before you're a writer, you're a citizen, a human being, and therefore the weapons of the citizen are at your disposal to use or not use.

Wole Soyinka quotes: An excessive amount of my time is taken with political involvement. It's unavoidable; that's my temperament.

An excessive amount of my time is taken with political involvement. It's unavoidable; that's my temperament.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Sadness is twilight's kiss on earth.

Sadness is twilight's kiss on earth.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Military dictatorship, you can focus on it, you can fight it directly. It's a band of power-driven people.

Military dictatorship, you can focus on it, you can fight it directly. It's a band of power-driven people.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I'm not sure I'm trying to communicate a message. I'm just trying to be part of the movement away from the unacceptable present.

I'm not sure I'm trying to communicate a message. I'm just trying to be part of the movement away from the unacceptable present.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Just like birds, hunters know no borders.

Just like birds, hunters know no borders.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I have one abiding religion-human liberty.

I have one abiding religion-human liberty.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I love beauty. But I like the beauty accidentally, not dished up, served up on a platter.

I love beauty. But I like the beauty accidentally, not dished up, served up on a platter.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Suddenly the world has run amok and left you alone and sane behind

Suddenly the world has run amok and left you alone and sane behind

Wole Soyinka quotes: The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny

The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny

Wole Soyinka quotes: There's something about the theater which makes my fingertips tingle.

There's something about the theater which makes my fingertips tingle.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Romance is the sweetening of the soulWith fragrance offered by the stricken heart.

Romance is the sweetening of the soul
With fragrance offered by the stricken heart.

Wole Soyinka quotes: All religions accept that there is something called 'criminality.' And criminality cannot be excused by religious fervour.

All religions accept that there is something called 'criminality.' And criminality cannot be excused by religious fervour.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Even when I'm writing plays I enjoy having company and mentally I think of that company as the company I'm writing for.

Even when I'm writing plays I enjoy having company and mentally I think of that company as the company I'm writing for.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I am convinced that Nigeria would have been a more highly developed country without the oil. I wished we'd never smelled the fumes of petroleum.

I am convinced that Nigeria would have been a more highly developed country without the oil. I wished we'd never smelled the fumes of petroleum.

Wole Soyinka quotes: For the fire consumes all but the arsonist.

For the fire consumes all but the arsonist.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Well, first of all I'll say that I come alive best in theater.

Well, first of all I'll say that I come alive best in theater.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Some of the greatest uprisings and consequent civil wars in Mexico have centered squarely on the ownership of land.

Some of the greatest uprisings and consequent civil wars in Mexico have centered squarely on the ownership of land.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I don't really consider myself a novelist, it just came out purely by accident.

I don't really consider myself a novelist, it just came out purely by accident.

Wole Soyinka quotes: The problem with literature, with writing, is that it works sometimes in terms of correction of social ills. Other times, it just does not suffice.

The problem with literature, with writing, is that it works sometimes in terms of correction of social ills. Other times, it just does not suffice.

Wole Soyinka quotes: In the world of literature, I see prizes as more of a duty to the craft itself, rather than as something for the individual.

In the world of literature, I see prizes as more of a duty to the craft itself, rather than as something for the individual.

Wole Soyinka quotes: The hand that dips into the bottom of the pot will eat the biggest snail.

The hand that dips into the bottom of the pot will eat the biggest snail.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Looking at faces of people, one gets the feeling there's a lot of work to be done.

Looking at faces of people, one gets the feeling there's a lot of work to be done.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I don't have the sort of temperament that submits to Christianity or Islam.

I don't have the sort of temperament that submits to Christianity or Islam.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Trading and religion have always been aligned together in the history of the world, and especially on the African continent.

Trading and religion have always been aligned together in the history of the world, and especially on the African continent.

Wole Soyinka quotes: But the ultimate lesson is just sit down and write. That's all.

But the ultimate lesson is just sit down and write. That's all.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Seven is the magic figure, because that's a symbolic figure of my favorite deity, Ogun.

Seven is the magic figure, because that's a symbolic figure of my favorite deity, Ogun.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Each time I think I've created time for myself, along comes a throwback to disrupt my private space.

Each time I think I've created time for myself, along comes a throwback to disrupt my private space.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Politics, I believe, is a full-time occupation.

Politics, I believe, is a full-time occupation.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I have a kind of magnetic attraction to situations of violence.

I have a kind of magnetic attraction to situations of violence.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I am a glutton for tranquility.

I am a glutton for tranquility.

Wole Soyinka quotes: We Nigerians must reclaim our sovereignty, our civic entitlements.

We Nigerians must reclaim our sovereignty, our civic entitlements.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Don't take shadows too seriously. Reality is your only safety. Continue to reject illusion.

Don't take shadows too seriously. Reality is your only safety. Continue to reject illusion.

Wole Soyinka quotes: History teaches us to beware of the excitation of the liberated and the injustices that often accompany their righteous thirst for justice.

History teaches us to beware of the excitation of the liberated and the injustices that often accompany their righteous thirst for justice.

Wole Soyinka quotes: The man dies in all those that keep silent.

The man dies in all those that keep silent.

Wole Soyinka quotes: You always assume for some strange reason that you need three meals a day.

You always assume for some strange reason that you need three meals a day.

Wole Soyinka quotes: No human is completely fearless.

No human is completely fearless.

Wole Soyinka quotes: One has to confront history honestly.

One has to confront history honestly.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Be yourself. Ultimately just be yourself.

Be yourself. Ultimately just be yourself.

Wole Soyinka quotes: For me, justice is the prime condition of humanity.

For me, justice is the prime condition of humanity.

Wole Soyinka quotes: African film makers are scraping by on a mere pittance.

African film makers are scraping by on a mere pittance.

Wole Soyinka quotes: In Africa, those who have money - businessmen and banks - do not believe in film.

In Africa, those who have money - businessmen and banks - do not believe in film.

Wole Soyinka quotes: One thing I can tell you is this, that I am not a methodical writer.

One thing I can tell you is this, that I am not a methodical writer.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Writers are human. I shudder to think how I must sometimes appear to others.

Writers are human. I shudder to think how I must sometimes appear to others.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I take friendship very seriously.

I take friendship very seriously.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Books and all forms of writing are terror to those who wish to suppress truth.

Books and all forms of writing are terror to those who wish to suppress truth.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Education is lacking in most of those who pontificate.

Education is lacking in most of those who pontificate.

Wole Soyinka quotes: The novel, for me, was an accident. I really don't consider myself a novelist.

The novel, for me, was an accident. I really don't consider myself a novelist.

Wole Soyinka quotes: And I believe that the best learning process of any kind of craft is just to look at the work of others.

And I believe that the best learning process of any kind of craft is just to look at the work of others.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I've always written plays for the purpose of getting something out of my system.

I've always written plays for the purpose of getting something out of my system.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I cannot accept the definition of collective good as articulated by a privileged minority in society, especially when that minority is in power.

I cannot accept the definition of collective good as articulated by a privileged minority in society, especially when that minority is in power.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I like to say, 'I spend one-third of my time in Nigeria, one-third in Europe or America, and one-third on a plane.'

I like to say, 'I spend one-third of my time in Nigeria, one-third in Europe or America, and one-third on a plane.'

Wole Soyinka quotes: The phenomenon of creativity, we know, is closely related to the ability to yoke together separate, and even seemingly incompatible, matrices.

The phenomenon of creativity, we know, is closely related to the ability to yoke together separate, and even seemingly incompatible, matrices.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Power is domination, control, and therefore a very selective form of truth which is a lie.

Power is domination, control, and therefore a very selective form of truth which is a lie.

Wole Soyinka quotes: I like my peace and quiet whenever I can grab it.

I like my peace and quiet whenever I can grab it.

Wole Soyinka quotes: The blatant aggressiveness of theocracies I find distressing, because I grew up when Christians, Muslim and animists lived peacefully together.

The blatant aggressiveness of theocracies I find distressing, because I grew up when Christians, Muslim and animists lived peacefully together.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Some people think the Nobel Prize makes you bullet-proof. I never had that illusion.

Some people think the Nobel Prize makes you bullet-proof. I never had that illusion.

Wole Soyinka quotes: It's the place to begin, always to return to home, literally.

It's the place to begin, always
to return to home, literally.

Wole Soyinka quotes: Let's say there are prospects for a new Nigeria, but I don't think we have a new Nigeria yet.

Let's say there are prospects for a new Nigeria, but I don't think we have a new Nigeria yet.