Book Quote by Barack Obama
“How does the saying go? When two locusts fight, it is always the crow that feasts.' Is that a Luo expression?' I asked. Sayid's face broke into a bashful smile. We have a similar expression in Luo,' he said, 'but actually I must admit that I read this particular expression in a book by Chinua Achebe. The Nigerian writer. I like his books very much. He speaks the truth about Africa's predicament. the Nigerian, the Kenya - it is the same. We share more than divides us.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview, 2015, Nairobi, Kenya
The proverb illustrates that mediators often benefit from others' conflicts, a universal observation across cultures.
In simple terms: Mediators profit from disputes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address the role of third parties.
Themes
conflict
mediators
culture
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
proverbial
cultural
When to use this quote
- negotiations
- community disputes
- political debates
Key Concepts
power dynamics
third‑party benefit
proverbial wisdom
Questions to Reflect On
- Who benefits when others clash?
- How can we prevent exploitation of conflict?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex situations.
![“That is another theme in the book [Dreams from My Father]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we get the black to see through the eyes of the white? Or the citizen to see through the eyes of the immigrant? Or the straight to see through the eyes of the gay? That has…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00d/barack-obama-17_black_that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams_10185.jpg)
