“Let no one be fooled by the fact that we may write in English, for we intend to do unheard of things… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
The writer cannot expect to be excused from the task of reeducation and regeneration that must be done. In fact, he should… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
If I write novels in a country in which most citizens are illiterate, who then is my community? — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
I wouldn't have wanted anyone to teach me how to write. That's my own taste. I prefer to stumble on it. — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
“Decolonising the Mind, by an important African writer and revolutionary, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o.” — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
What you must accept is that your life is not going to be the same while you are writing. — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
If you don't like someone's story, write your own. If you don't like what somebody says, say what it is you don't… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
It is not quite true to say that I am not an advocate of writing in African languages. What I think is,… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
Storytellers are a threat. They threaten all champions of control, they frighten usurpers of the right-to-freedom of the human spirit -- in… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
If someone said, I want to translate your novel into Igbo, I would say, Go ahead. But when I write in the… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
The writer is often faced with two choices--turn away from the reality of life's intimidating complexity or conquer its mystery by battling… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
Unless I'm writing in the Igbo language, I use a language developed elsewhere, which is English. That affects the way I write.… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
Most writers who are beginners, if they are honest with themselves, will admit that they are praying for a readership as they… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
Many writers can't make a living. So to be able to teach how to write is valuable to them. But I don't… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
I'm a practised writer now. But when I began, I had no idea what this was going to be. I just knew… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
I did not think of writing as a career and I don't think that I did this ever really, but I think… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
When I'm writing, I really want to satisfy myself. I've got a story that I am working on and struggling with, and… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
My books have done extremely well, I know. But I don't honestly feel much different from when I began to write. I… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
“...Let me say that I do think decency and civilization would insist that the writer take sides with the powerless. Clearly, there's… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
“This does not in any way close the argument for the development of African languages by the intervention of writers and governments.… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
What I can say is that it was clear to many of us that an indigenous African literary renaissance was overdue. A… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
It's so easy to get into the same routine. A novel every two years; perhaps, improving technique. But I'm not interested in… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
Good leaders, competent leaders must see it as primary task to create friendliness. This something within the scope of most people. Now… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
The story of this man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make interesting reading. One could almost write a… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
“Most writers who are beginners, if they are honest with themselves, will admit that they are praying for a readership as they… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
“When I began going to school and learned to read, I encountered stories of other people and other lands. In one of… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
Every generation must find its mission and fulfill it, as Fanon said - or betray it. So it is not something that… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
It is the storyteller who makes us what we are, who creates history. The storyteller creates the memory that the survivors must… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
There's no lack of writers writing novels in America, about America. Therefore, it seems to me it would be wasteful for me… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
I think an artist, in my definition of that word, would not be someone who takes sides with the emperor against his… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
I think dialects should be left alone. People should write in whatever dialect they feel they want to write. In the fullness… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
I am not an early-morning person; I don't like to get out of bed, and so I don't begin writing at five… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share Image
“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share
“Do not despair. I know you will not despair. You have a manly and a proud heart. A proud heart can survive a general… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share
My son even if you want to fall, at least fall where your bones can be gathered — Chinua Achebe Copy Share
“And so Mr. Brown came to be respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on its faith.” — Chinua Achebe Copy Share
“I have learned that a man who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself.” — Chinua Achebe Copy Share
In fact, I thought that Christianity was very a good and a very valuable thing for us. But after a while, I began to… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share
I find Nigeria very frustrating. I am not alone in this. There are many Nigerians abroad. As you know, the brain drain is just… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share
I do not actually see how art, literature can be anything other that being in that domain of trying to tell us, trying to… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share
Democracy is not something you put away for ten years, and then in the 11th year you wake up and start practicing again. We… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share
When I began going to school and learned to read, I encountered stories of other people and other lands. In one of my essays,… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share
Almost nobody dances sober, unless they happen to be insane. H. P. LOVECRAFT, attributed, Telling It Like It Is Dancing is very important nowadays.… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share
“Then listen to me,' he said and cleared his throat. 'It's true that a child belongs to its father. But when a father beats… — Chinua Achebe Copy Share
What you must accept is that your life is not going to be the same while you are writing. — Chinua Achebe Copy Share
