--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...Let me say that I do think decency and…" description: "\"“...Let me say that I do think decency and civilization would insist that the writer take sides with the powerless. Clearly, there's no moral obligatio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/753/chinua-achebe-781_art_let-me-say-that-i-do-think-decency-and-c_2970614.jpg" --- # ...Let me say that I do think decency and civilization… ![“...Let me say that I do think decency and civilization would insist that the writer take sides with the powerless. Clearly, there's no moral obligation to write in any particular way. But there is a moral obligation, I think, not to ally oneself with power against the powerless. I think an artist…” quote by Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/753/chinua-achebe-781_art_let-me-say-that-i-do-think-decency-and-c_2970614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/753/chinua-achebe-781_art_let-me-say-that-i-do-think-decency-and-c_2970614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/753/chinua-achebe-781_art_let-me-say-that-i-do-think-decency-and-c_2970614.jpg) > ““...Let me say that I do think decency and civilization would insist that the writer take sides with the powerless. Clearly, there's no moral obligation to write in any particular way. But there is a moral obligation, I think, not to ally oneself with power against the powerless. I think an artist, in my definition of that word, would not be someone who takes sides with the emperor against his powerless subjects.”” [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer should not support power over the powerless, though not forced to take sides. **In simple terms:** Writers must avoid siding with oppressors. Key Takeaway Support the powerless, stay neutral on power. Themes ethics literature power solidarity responsibility Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - Journalism - fiction - activist writing Key Concepts Moral duty authorial voice political neutrality Questions to Reflect On - How can writers critique power without bias? - Is neutrality a myth in literature? A Different Perspective Power dynamics are complex; neutrality may be impossible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Insist Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insist-writer-4571298/) [Moral obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-obligation/) [Obligation Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation-think-3556912/) [Powerless Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerless-subjects-4571299/) [Takes Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes-sides-413552/) [Writer Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-sides-4571297/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [There is a moral obligation, I think, not to ally oneself with power against the powerless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/there-is-a-moral-obligation-i-think-not-to-ally-oneself-with-power/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I think an artist, in my definition of that word, would not be someone who takes sides with the emperor against his powerless subjects.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-think-an-artist-in-my-definition-of-that-word-would-not-be-someone/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Forgiveness is the act of freeing yourself from an obligation to think negative thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forgiveness-is-the-act-of-freeing-yourself-from-an-obligation-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The law is a powerful thing but the law doesn't always change what's in people's hearts. 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A major concern of the time was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/writing-has-always-been-a-serious-business-for-me-i-felt-it-was-a/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [It takes two sides to make a deal, two sides to negotiate and two sides to make it go bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bettman/it-takes-two-sides-to-make-a-deal-two-sides-to-negotiate-and-two/) [Gary Bettman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bettman/) ## More by Chinua Achebe > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Do not despair. I know you will not despair. You have a manly and a proud heart. 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We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/democracy-is-not-something-you-put-away-for-ten-years-and-then-in-the/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [When there is a big tree small ones climb on its back to reach the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/when-there-is-a-big-tree-small-ones-climb-on-its-back-to-reach-the-sun/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [When I began going to school and learned to read, I encountered stories of other people and other lands. In one of my essays,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/when-i-began-going-to-school-and-learned-to-read-i-encountered/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Almost nobody dances sober, unless they happen to be insane. H. P. LOVECRAFT, attributed, Telling It Like It Is Dancing is very important nowadays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/almost-nobody-dances-sober-unless-they-happen-to-be-insane-h-p/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [This is why I find racism impossible, because this is against humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/this-is-why-i-find-racism-impossible-because-this-is-against-humanity/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Then listen to me,' he said and cleared his throat. 'It's true that a child belongs to its father. 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You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. 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