Things Fall Apart Quotes

“When a man blasphemes, what do we do? Do we go and stop his mouth? No. We put our fingers into our ears to stop us hearing. That is a wise action.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“The story of this man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make interesting reading. One could almost write a whole chapter on him. Perhaps not a whole chapter but a reasonable paragraph, at any rate. There was so much else to include, and one must be firm in cutting out details. He had already chosen the title of the book, after much thought: The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“As the man who had cleared his throat drew up and raised his machete, Okonkwo looked away. He heard the blow. The pot fell and broke in the sand. He heard Ikemefuna cry, "My father, they have killed me!" as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being though weak.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“You think you are the greatest sufferer in the world? Do you know
that men are sometimes banished for life? Do you know that men
sometimes lose all their yams and even their children? I had six
wives once. I have none now except that young girl who knows not
her right from her left. Do you know how many children I have
buried--children I begot in my youth' and strength? Twenty-two. I
did not hang myself, and I am still alive. If you think you are the
greatest sufferer in the world ask my daughter, Akueni, how many
twins she has borne and thrown away. Have you not. heard the song
they sing when a woman dies?
"'For whom is it well, for whom is it well?
There is no one for whom it is well.'
"I have no more to say to you.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“But the Ibo have a proverb that when a man says yes his chi says yes also.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“It was always said that Ndulue and Ozoemena had one mind," said Obierika.
"I remember when I was a young boy there was a song about them. He could not do
anything without telling her."

"I did not know that," said Okonkwo. "I thought he was a strong man in his youth."

"He was indeed," said Ofoedu.

Okonkwo shook his head doubtfully.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog...”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“There was saying in Umuofia that as a man danced so the drums were beaten for him. Mr. Smith danced a furious step and so the drums went mad.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness. It was deeper and more intimate than the fear of evil and capricious gods and of magic, the fear of the forest, and of the forces of nature, malevolent, red in tooth and claw”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“What is good among one people is an abomination among others.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“a amargura de Ekwefi não se dirigia para fora, contra os outros, e sim para dentro, a entranhar-se em sua alma.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“Nothing is falling apart”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“- Puisque j'ai survécu à cette année-là, disait-il toujours, je survivrai à n'importe quoi.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“When a man blasphemes, what do we do? Do we go and stop his mouth? No. We put our fingers into our ears to stop us hearing. That is a wise action.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“Looking at a king's mouth, one would think he never sucked at his mother's breast.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“As he walked back to the court he thought about that book. Every day brought him new material. The story of this man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make interesting read. One could almost write a whole chapter on him. Perhaps not a whole chapter but a reasonable paragraph, at any rate. There was so much else to include, and one must be firm in cutting out details. He had already chosen the title of the book, after much thought: The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

“It is not bravery when a man fights with a woman.”
― Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart