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70 Powerful Chinua Achebe Quotes

Famous As: Nigerian novelist
Born On: November 16, 1930
Died On: March 21, 2013
Born In: Ogidi, Nigeria Protectorate
Died At Age: 82
Chinua Achebe was an eminent Nigerian poet, critic, professor and novelist. He shot to fame with his first novel titled, ‘Things Fall Apart’, which is still widely read and is the most sought after book in modern African literature. In 2007, he won the ‘Man Booker International Prize’. He was an excellent student and earned a scholarship to study medicine, but he swapped medicine with English literature at the university. Some of his well-known works include, ‘A Man of The People’, ‘No Longer At Ease’, ‘Anthills Of The Savannah’ and ‘Arrow Of God’. We have compiled some well-known and quotable quotes and sayings by one of Africa’s foremost novelists which he expressed through his writings, poetry, novels, books, thoughts, lectures, essays, short-stories, folk stories and life. Read through the collection of thoughts and quotations by Chinua Achebe that will give you a glimpse of Igbo society, clash of western and traditional African values and the effect of Christian influences.
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If you don't like someone's story, write your own.

If you don't like someone's story, write your own.

Chinua Achebe
The world is like a Mask dancing. If you want to see it well, you do not stand in one place.

The world is like a Mask dancing. If you want to see it well, you do not stand in one place.

Chinua Achebe
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
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.

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
There is no story that is not true, [...] The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.

There is no story that is not true, [...] The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.

Chinua Achebe
To me, being an intellectual doesn't mean knowing about intellectual issues; it means taking pleasure in them.

To me, being an intellectual doesn't mean knowing about intellectual issues; it means taking pleasure in them.

Chinua Achebe
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
Charity . . . is the opium of the privileged.

Charity . . . is the opium of the privileged.

Chinua Achebe
When suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool.

When suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool.

Chinua Achebe
My weapon is literature

My weapon is literature

Chinua Achebe
If I hold her hand she says, ‘Don’t touch!’
If I hold her foot she says ‘Don’t touch!’ 
But when I hold her waist-beads she pretends not to know.

If I hold her hand she says, ‘Don’t touch!’ If I hold her foot she says ‘Don’t touch!’ But when I hold her waist-beads she pretends not to know.

Chinua Achebe
There is no story that is not true.

There is no story that is not true.

Chinua Achebe
When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk

When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk

Chinua Achebe
If you don't like my story,write your own

If you don't like my story,write your own

Chinua Achebe
Nobody can teach me who I am.

Nobody can teach me who I am.

Chinua Achebe
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
People create stories create people; or rather stories create people create stories.

People create stories create people; or rather stories create people create stories.

Chinua Achebe
...when we are comfortable and inattentive, we run the risk of committing grave injustices absentmindedly.

...when we are comfortable and inattentive, we run the risk of committing grave injustices absentmindedly.

Chinua Achebe
Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.

Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.

Chinua Achebe
Writers don't give prescriptions. They give headaches!

Writers don't give prescriptions. They give headaches!

Chinua Achebe
When Suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat left for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool.

When Suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat left for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool.

Chinua Achebe
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
It is the storyteller who makes us what we are, who creates history. The storyteller creates the memory that the survivors must have - otherwise their surviving would have no meaning.

It is the storyteller who makes us what we are, who creates history. The storyteller creates the memory that the survivors must have - otherwise their surviving would have no meaning.

Chinua Achebe
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
It always surprised him when he thought of it later that he did not sink under the load of despair.

It always surprised him when he thought of it later that he did not sink under the load of despair.

Chinua Achebe
A child cannot pay for its mother’s milk.

A child cannot pay for its mother’s milk.

Chinua Achebe
The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.

The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.

Chinua Achebe
It is the story that owns and directs us. It is the thing that makes us different from cattle; it is the mark on the face that sets one people apart from their neighbors.

It is the story that owns and directs us. It is the thing that makes us different from cattle; it is the mark on the face that sets one people apart from their neighbors.

Chinua Achebe
The impatient idealist says: 'Give me a place to stand and I shall move the earth.' But such a place does not exist. We all have to stand on the earth itself and go with her at her pace.

The impatient idealist says: 'Give me a place to stand and I shall move the earth.' But such a place does not exist. We all have to stand on the earth itself and go with her at her pace.

Chinua Achebe
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