Doe Quote by Chinua Achebe
“Beware Okonkwo!" she warned. "Beware of exchanging words with Agbala. Does a man speak when a god speaks? Beware!”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, 1958
The warning highlights the danger of speaking on divine matters and the risk of overstepping mortal limits.
In simple terms: Be careful when confronting higher powers.
Key Takeaway
Respect boundaries of the sacred.
Themes
respect
power
communication
Mood
cautious
reverent
Type
cautionary
mythic
When to use this quote
- rituals
- political discourse
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
mythology
authority
speech
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the limits of human speech in sacred contexts?
- How do we discern when to speak or stay silent?
A Different Perspective
Human language may be insufficient for divine dialogue.
![“You sound as if you question the authority and the decision of the Oracle, who said he should die." "I do not. Why should I? But the Oracle did not ask me to carry out its decision." [...] "The Earth cannot punish me for obeying her mesenger," Okonkwo said. "A child's fingers are not scalded by a…” quote by Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9d1/chinua-achebe-781_ask-me_you-sound-as-if-you-question-the-authori_2499504.jpg)
