Things Fall Apart is a 1958 novel written by Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe.
This novel is regarded as the archetypal modern African novel in English and is regarded as one of the first African novels to earn worldwide critical acclaim.
Let’s explore some of the most famous quotes from Things Fall Apart novel.
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Things Fall Apart Quotes by Chinua Achebe
“If you don’t like my story, write your own.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“A man’s life from birth to death was a series of transition rites which brought him nearer and nearer to his ancestors.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“There was a saying in Umuofia that as a man danced so the drums were beaten for him.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“Fortunately, among these people a man was judged according to his worth and not according to the worth of his father.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“When a man is at peace with his gods and ancestors, his harvest will be good or bad according to the strength of his arm.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“As our fathers said, you can tell a ripe corn by its look.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
Related Popular Book Quotes: Krampus – The Yule Lord Quotes by Brom and The Mamba Mentality Quotes by Pau Gasol
Quotes from Things Fall Apart
“At the most one could say that his chi or … personal god was good. But the Ibo people have a proverb that when a man says yes his chi says yes also. Okonkwo said yes very strongly; so his chi agreed.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“Our elders say that the sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“A snake was never called by its name at night, because it would hear. It was called a string.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“It always surprised him when he thought of it later that he did not sink under the load of despair.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“He saw himself and his fathers crowding round their ancestral shrine waiting in vain for worship and sacrifice and finding nothing but ashes of bygone days..” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
Best Things Fall Apart Quotes by Chinua Achebe
“Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without perching.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“If a child washes his hands he could eat with kings.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“A child cannot pay for its mother’s milk.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“A man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. They all have food in their own homes. When we gather together in the moonlit village ground it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own compound. We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“And immediately Okonkwo’s eyes were opened and he saw the whole matter clearly. Living fire begets cold, impotent ash. He sighed again, deeply.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children (and especially his women) he was not really a man.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
Famous Things Fall Apart Quotes
“The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“But it was like beginning life anew without the vigor and enthusiasm of youth, like learning to become left-handed in old age.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“When a man blasphemes, what do we do? Do we go and stop his mouth? No. We put our fingers into our ears to stop us hearing. This is a wise action.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“But the Ibo people have a proverb that when a man says yes his chi says yes also.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“You do not know me,’ said Tortoise. ‘I am a changed man. I have learned that a man who makes trouble for others makes trouble for himself.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered. As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“When mother-cow is chewing grass its young ones watch its mouth” ~ Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart.
“Do not despair. I know you will not despair. You have a manly and a proud heart. A proud heart can survive a general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride. It is more difficult and more bitter when a man fails alone.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
Great Things Fall Apart Quotes
“There is no story that is not true.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“If I hold her hand she says, ‘Don’t touch!’
If I hold her foot she says ‘Don’t touch!’
But when I hold her waist-beads she pretends not to know.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“There is no story that is not true, […] The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
“When the moon rose late in the night, people said it was refusing food, as a sullen husband refuses his wife’s food when they have quarrelled.” ~ Chinua Achebe (quote from Things Fall Apart).
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