We do not seek to hurt any man, but if any man seeks to hurt us may he break his neck.
CHINUA ACHEBEWe cannot trample upon the humanity of others without devaluing our own. The Igbo, always practical, put it concretely in their proverb Onye ji onye n’ani ji onwe ya: ‘He who will hold another down in the mud must stay in the mud to keep him down.’
More Chinua Achebe Quotes
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The man that brings ant-infested faggots into his hut should not grumble when lizards begin to pay him a visit.
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Nobody can teach me who I am.
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We shall all live. We pray for life, children, a good harvest and happiness. You will have what is good for you and I will have what is good for me. Let the kite perch and let the egret perch too. If one says no to the other, let his wing break.
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In dealing with a man who thinks you are a fool, it is good sometimes to remind him that you know what he knows but have chosen to appear foolish for the sake of peace.
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Only the story can continue beyond the war and the warrior. The story outlives the sound of the war drum… The story is our escort. Without it we are blind… It is the thing that sets us apart from cattle.
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The damage done in one year can sometimes take ten or twenty years to repair.
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One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised.
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I am against people reaping where they have not sown. But we have a saying that if you want to eat a toad you should look for a fat and juicy one.
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An artist in my view is always afraid of extremists; he is always afraid of those who claim to have found the ultimate solution to any question.
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Women and music should not be dated.
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Whenever you see a toad jumping in broad daylight, then know that something is after its life.
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Every generation must recognize and embrace the task it is peculiarly designed by history and by providence to perform.
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Become familiar with your home, but know also about your neighbors. The young man who never went anywhere thinks his mother is the greatest cook.
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Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.
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The language of young men is pull down and destroy; but an old man speaks of conciliation.
CHINUA ACHEBE