Chinua Achebe’s first ever novel Things Fall Apart was originally published in the year 1958. Things Fall Apart is one of the most important literary books in modern African history and it also happens to be the most read book on the continent.
After Things Fall Apart publication, Chinua Achebe was lauded and accoladed by the entire world as he received the tag “the father of modern African writing”. He is undoubtedly one of the prolific and most vibrant writers Africa has ever had. Here we shall list some 10 most popular quotes from his works.
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10 Quotes From Chinua Achebe’s Selected Works
Chinua Achebe
Things Fall Apart – Published In 1958
- “The white man is very clever. He came quietly with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart,”➡️ Things Fall Apart.
- Eneke the bird: “Men have learned to shoot without missing their mark and I have learned to fly without perching on a twig”➡️ Things Fall Apart.
- “Whenever you see a toad jumping in broad daylight, then know that something is after its life,” ➡️ Things Fall Apart.
- “Okonkwo stood looking at the dead man. He knew that Umuofia would not go to war. He knew because they had let the other messengers escape. They had broken into tumult instead of action. He discerned fright in that tumult. He heard voices asking: “Why did he do it?” ➡️ Things Fall Apart.
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No Longer at Ease – Published In 1960
- “You cannot plant greatness as you plant yams or maize. Who ever planted an iroko tree — the greatest tree in the forest? You may collect all the iroko seeds in the world, open the soil and put them there. It will be in vain. The great tree chooses where to grow and we find it there, so it is with the greatness in men,” ➡️No Longer at Ease.
- “A man to whom you do a favor will not understand if you say nothing, make no noise, just walk away. You may cause more trouble by refusing a bribe than by accepting it,” ➡️ No Longer at Ease.
- “When there is a big tree small ones climb on its back to reach the sun,” ➡️ No Longer at Ease.
Arrow Of God – Published In 1964
- “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” ➡️ Arrow Of God.
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Anthills Of The Savannah – Published In 1987
- “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” ➡️ Anthills Of The Savannah
- “Charity…is the opium of the privileged” ➡️ Anthills Of The Savannah
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