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Quotes from Scarlet Song — Mariama Bâ

1929–1981 Senegal

← All quotes by Mariama Bâ

16 quotes

“The flavour of life is love. The salt of life is also love.”

Scarlet Song (1981)

“The word ‘happiness’ does indeed have meaning, doesn’t it? I shall go out in search of it.”

Scarlet Song (1981)

“Each life has its share of heroism, an obscure heroism, born of abdication, of renunciation and acceptance under the merciless whip of fate.”

Scarlet Song (1981)

“A woman must marry the man who loves her, but never the one she loves; that is the secret of lasting happiness.”

Scarlet Song (1981)

“The most humble of huts is pleasing when it is clean; the most luxurious setting offers no attraction if it is covered in dust.”

Scarlet Song (1981)

“A nervous breakdown waits around the corner for anyone who lets himself wallow in bitterness. Little by little, it takes over your whole being.”

Scarlet Song (1981)

“Friendship has splendors that love knows not. It grows stronger when crossed, whereas obstacles kill love. Friendship resists time, which wearies and severs couples. It has heights unknown to love."

Scarlet Song (1981)

“In a word, a man’s success depends on feminine support.”

Scarlet Song (1981)

In the face of misogyny and injustice, the only hope is escape.

Scarlet Song (1981)

Love knows no bounds, but sometimes society does.

Scarlet Song (1981)

The truth can be a harsh and cruel reality.

Scarlet Song (1981)

A Toubab can’t be a proper daughter-in-law. She’ll only have eyes for her man. We’ll mean nothing to her.

Scarlet Song (1981)

Ousmane Gueye, who had mistrusted all women, threw himself at the mercy of a woman, and a white woman at that.

Scarlet Song (1981)

Was he a possible partner for Mireille? Could he assume such a mutation.

Scarlet Song (1981)

We saw everything through the same eyes before we were married… But now we seem to be divided over everything.

Scarlet Song (1981)

“Teachers – at kindergarten level, as at university level – form a noble army accomplishing daily feats, never praised, never decorated. An army without drums, without gleaming uniforms. This army, thwarting traps and snares, everywhere plants the flag of knowledge and morality.”

Scarlet Song (1981)

Attribution

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