--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This does not in any way close the…" description: "\"“This does not in any way close the argument for the development of African languages by the intervention of writers and governments. But we do not hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/chinua-achebe-781_politics_this-does-not-in-any-way-close-the-argum_2821365.jpg" --- # This does not in any way close the argument for the… ![“This does not in any way close the argument for the development of African languages by the intervention of writers and governments. But we do not have to falsify our history in the process. That would be playing politics. The words of the Czech novelist Kundera should ring in our ears: Those who…” quote by Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/chinua-achebe-781_politics_this-does-not-in-any-way-close-the-argum_2821365.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/chinua-achebe-781_politics_this-does-not-in-any-way-close-the-argum_2821365.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/465/chinua-achebe-781_politics_this-does-not-in-any-way-close-the-argum_2821365.jpg) > ““This does not in any way close the argument for the development of African languages by the intervention of writers and governments. But we do not have to falsify our history in the process. That would be playing politics. The words of the Czech novelist Kundera should ring in our ears: Those who seek power passionately do so not to change the present or the future but the past—to rewrite history. There is no cause for writers to join their ranks.”” [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. Writers should develop African languages without altering history, warning against politicizing literature. **In simple terms:** Writers must protect language and history from politics. Key Takeaway Preserve authentic cultural narratives. Themes cultural integrity politics language preservation Mood reflective critical Type literary political When to use this quote - education - publishing - activism Key Concepts literary ethics historical truth national identity Questions to Reflect On - How can writers stay independent? - What role should governments play in language preservation? A Different Perspective Political pressure can distort artistic intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African Languages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-languages-529808/) [Cause Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-writers-3592276/) [Falsify History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsify-history-3592277/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Writers Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-governments-3592275/) [Writers Join](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-join-3592278/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [It is not quite true to say that I am not an advocate of writing in African languages. What I think is, one has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/it-is-not-quite-true-to-say-that-i-am-not-an-advocate-of-writing-in/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I can read more languages than I speak! 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