--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Proverbs are the palm oil with which…" description: "\"Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten\" — Chinua Achebe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/chinua-achebe-781_palm-oil_proverbs-are-the-palm-oil-with-which-wor_1219553.png" --- # Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten ![“Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten” quote by Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/chinua-achebe-781_palm-oil_proverbs-are-the-palm-oil-with-which-wor_1219553.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/chinua-achebe-781_palm-oil_proverbs-are-the-palm-oil-with-which-wor_1219553.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/chinua-achebe-781_palm-oil_proverbs-are-the-palm-oil-with-which-wor_1219553.png) > “Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten” [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. Words are like palm oil, a medium that makes ideas digestible and flavorful, highlighting the importance of language in shaping perception. **In simple terms:** Language enriches and makes ideas easier to understand. Key Takeaway Choose words that nourish and clarify communication. Themes language communication culture metaphor Mood thoughtful analytical Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - writing - teaching - public speaking - media production Key Concepts linguistics cultural symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What metaphors best clarify your core message? - When does a metaphor become a barrier? A Different Perspective Overreliance on metaphor can obscure clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Palm oil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/palm-oil/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proverb/) [Proverbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proverbs/) ## Related quotes > [Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/among-the-igbo-the-art-of-conversation-is-regarded-very-highly-and/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“He saw himself and his fathers crowding round their ancestral shrine waiting in vain for worship and sacrifice and finding nothing but ashes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/he-saw-himself-and-his-fathers-crowding-round-their-ancestral-shrine/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [The pressed oil of words can blaze up into music, into image, into the heart and mind's knowledge. The lit and shadowed places within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hirshfield/the-pressed-oil-of-words-can-blaze-up-into-music-into-image-into-the/) [Jane Hirshfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hirshfield/) > [“When we gather together in the moonlit village ground it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/achebe-chinua/when-we-gather-together-in-the-moonlit-village-ground-it-is-not/) Achebe Chinua > [The commitment to put an end to illegal deforestation and develop sustainable alternatives for commodities like palm oil and soy, for example, is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/the-commitment-to-put-an-end-to-illegal-deforestation-and-develop/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [“Some of the world’s biggest banks and investor groups have swung behind a pledge to raise $200bn by the end of next year to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-of-the-world-s-biggest-banks-and-investor-groups-have-swung/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“COCONUT OIL LIP BALM   1T coconut oil 1T honey 1T olive oil or red palm oil (for a tint of lip color)  …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/speedy-publishing/coconut-oil-lip-balm-1t-coconut-oil-1t-honey-1t-olive-oil-or-red-palm/) Speedy Publishing > [English is still the unifying language in Sarawak and I use my blog and broadcasts to expose the outrageous deforestation which has seen 95…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-rewcastle-brown/english-is-still-the-unifying-language-in-sarawak-and-i-use-my-blog/) [Clare Rewcastle Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-rewcastle-brown/) > [“The path of least resistance is paved with high-fructose corn syrup and palm oil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosam-zidan/the-path-of-least-resistance-is-paved-with-high-fructose-corn-syrup/) Hosam Zidan > [I would make a difference by banning unsustainable palm oil in order to save the rainforest and orangutan habitats along with the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-cleary/i-would-make-a-difference-by-banning-unsustainable-palm-oil-in-order/) [Katie Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-cleary/) > [Deforestation for palm-oil production also contributes significantly to climate change. The removal of the native forests often involves the burning of timber and remaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-cleary/deforestation-for-palm-oil-production-also-contributes-significantly/) [Katie Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-cleary/) > [Note even Jonathan Swift would dare to write a satire in which politicians argued that - in a world where species are vanishing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/note-even-jonathan-swift-would-dare-to-write-a-satire-in-which/) [Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/) > [“My advice to someone like you is to always stay close to the gray area and keep yourself and your family safe. Stay away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imbolo-mbue/my-advice-to-someone-like-you-is-to-always-stay-close-to-the-gray/) [Imbolo Mbue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imbolo-mbue/) > [The simple fact is that the world is not paying for the services the forests provide. At the moment, they are worth more dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-charles/the-simple-fact-is-that-the-world-is-not-paying-for-the-services-the/) [Prince Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-charles/) > [“in making neurotransmitters, the pathways that neurons travel on. The major breakthrough is the fact that the brain becomes insulin resistant. A substance in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-lane/in-making-neurotransmitters-the-pathways-that-neurons-travel-on-the/) Victoria Lane ## 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. A proud heart can survive a general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/do-not-despair-i-know-you-will-not-despair-you-have-a-manly-and-a/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [My son even if you want to fall, at least fall where your bones can be gathered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/my-son-even-if-you-want-to-fall-at-least-fall-where-your-bones-can-be/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“And so Mr. Brown came to be respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on its faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/and-so-mr-brown-came-to-be-respected-even-by-the-clan-because-he-trod/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“I have learned that a man who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-have-learned-that-a-man-who-makes-trouble-for-others-is-also-making/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [In fact, I thought that Christianity was very a good and a very valuable thing for us. But after a while, I began to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-fact-i-thought-that-christianity-was-very-a-good-and-a-very/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I find Nigeria very frustrating. I am not alone in this. There are many Nigerians abroad. As you know, the brain drain is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-find-nigeria-very-frustrating-i-am-not-alone-in-this-there-are-many/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I do not actually see how art, literature can be anything other that being in that domain of trying to tell us, trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-do-not-actually-see-how-art-literature-can-be-anything-other-that/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Democracy is not something you put away for ten years, and then in the 11th year you wake up and start practicing again. 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. But when a father beats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/then-listen-to-me-he-said-and-cleared-his-throat-it-s-true-that-a/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [What you must accept is that your life is not going to be the same while you are writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/what-you-must-accept-is-that-your-life-is-not-going-to-be-the-same/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) [Explore all 368 Chinua Achebe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) ## More Palm oil quotes > [Note even Jonathan Swift would dare to write a satire in which politicians argued that - in a world where species are vanishing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/note-even-jonathan-swift-would-dare-to-write-a-satire-in-which/) [Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/) > [The commitment to put an end to illegal deforestation and develop sustainable alternatives for commodities like palm oil and soy, for example, is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/the-commitment-to-put-an-end-to-illegal-deforestation-and-develop/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [The simple fact is that the world is not paying for the services the forests provide. At the moment, they are worth more dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-charles/the-simple-fact-is-that-the-world-is-not-paying-for-the-services-the/) [Prince Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-charles/) > [“My advice to someone like you is to always stay close to the gray area and keep yourself and your family safe. Stay away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imbolo-mbue/my-advice-to-someone-like-you-is-to-always-stay-close-to-the-gray/) [Imbolo Mbue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imbolo-mbue/) > [Deforestation for palm-oil production also contributes significantly to climate change. The removal of the native forests often involves the burning of timber and remaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-cleary/deforestation-for-palm-oil-production-also-contributes-significantly/) [Katie Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-cleary/) > [I would make a difference by banning unsustainable palm oil in order to save the rainforest and orangutan habitats along with the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-cleary/i-would-make-a-difference-by-banning-unsustainable-palm-oil-in-order/) [Katie Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-cleary/) > [“The path of least resistance is paved with high-fructose corn syrup and palm oil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosam-zidan/the-path-of-least-resistance-is-paved-with-high-fructose-corn-syrup/) Hosam Zidan > [English is still the unifying language in Sarawak and I use my blog and broadcasts to expose the outrageous deforestation which has seen 95…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-rewcastle-brown/english-is-still-the-unifying-language-in-sarawak-and-i-use-my-blog/) [Clare Rewcastle Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-rewcastle-brown/) > [“COCONUT OIL LIP BALM   1T coconut oil 1T honey 1T olive oil or red palm oil (for a tint of lip color)  …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/speedy-publishing/coconut-oil-lip-balm-1t-coconut-oil-1t-honey-1t-olive-oil-or-red-palm/) Speedy Publishing > [“Some of the world’s biggest banks and investor groups have swung behind a pledge to raise $200bn by the end of next year to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-of-the-world-s-biggest-banks-and-investor-groups-have-swung/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“in making neurotransmitters, the pathways that neurons travel on. The major breakthrough is the fact that the brain becomes insulin resistant. A substance in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-lane/in-making-neurotransmitters-the-pathways-that-neurons-travel-on-the/) Victoria Lane > [“Stay away from any place where you can run into police—that’s the advice I give to you and to all young black men in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imbolo-mbue/stay-away-from-any-place-where-you-can-run-into-police-that-s-the/) [Imbolo Mbue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imbolo-mbue/) > [I'm boiling about the rainforests being chopped down to make disposable chopsticks. I'm boiling about the fact that we have palm oil put into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-lumley/i-m-boiling-about-the-rainforests-being-chopped-down-to-make/) [Joanna Lumley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-lumley/) [Browse all 14 Palm oil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/palm-oil/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chinua Achebe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/proverbs-are-the-palm-oil-with-which-words-are-eaten/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Palm oil" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/proverbs-are-the-palm-oil-with-which-words-are-eaten/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/chinua-achebe-781_palm-oil_proverbs-are-the-palm-oil-with-which-wor_1219553.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/chinua-achebe-781_palm-oil_proverbs-are-the-palm-oil-with-which-wor_1219553.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/chinua-achebe-781_palm-oil_proverbs-are-the-palm-oil-with-which-wor_1219553.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten” — Chinua Achebe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Chinua Achebe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Proverbs are the palm oil with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/proverbs-are-the-palm-oil-with-which-words-are-eaten/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/proverbs-are-the-palm-oil-with-which-words-are-eaten/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```