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Quotes from No Longer at Ease — Chinua Achebe

1930–2013 Nigeria

← All quotes by Chinua Achebe

6 quotes

A man who lived on the banks of the Niger should not wash his hands with spittle.

No Longer at Ease (1960)

When there is a big tree small ones climb on its back to reach the sun.

No Longer at Ease (1960)

If one finger brings oil it soils the others.

No Longer at Ease (1960)

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 (1960)

Real tragedy is never resolved. It goes on hopelessly forever. Conventional tragedy is too easy. The hero dies and we feel a purging of the emotions. A real tragedy takes place in a corner, in an untidy spot, to quote W. H. Auden.

No Longer at Ease (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 (1960)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Chinua Achebe (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.