Chinua Achebe Quotes

On the one hand, we may tell the truth, regardless of consequences, and on the other hand we may mellow it and sophisticate it to make it humane and tolerable.

Sex: the thing that takes up the least amount of time and causes the most amount of trouble.

I didn't accept it. I received it.

I could not accept such a large sum from anyone outside my own family.

If a friend asks a favor, you should grant it if it is reasonable; if not, tell him plainly why you cannot: You will wrong him and wrong yourself by equivocation of any kind.

I spend a lot of time bathing in a glow of consensus but you also have to be willing to say something to people who might not agree with you and take the consequences of what follows.

When you don't take a stand against corruption you tacitly support it.

I don't like making comparisons. You might say one slight thing, find yourself misinterpreted, and suddenly you're in trouble.

I'm always amazed that people are shocked when their despicable action causes an equally despicable reaction.

There's not a lot of pure evil in the world, but it's amazing how little it takes to do great damage.

I don't care what you say, so don't even speak.

The choice before human beings, is not, as a rule , between good and evil but between two evils. You can let the Nazis rule the world : that is evil; or you can overthrow them by war , which is also evil. There is no other choice before you, and whichever you choose you will not come out with clean hands.

If you see fraud and do not say fraud, you are a fraud.

There's right and there's wrong. You got to do one or the other. You do the one and you're living. You do the other and you may be walking around, but you're dead as a beaver hat.

More trouble is caused in this world by indiscreet answers than by indiscreet questions.

A pure heart won't get us out of conflict and controversy. It may well be the very thing that gets us into it.

When you invite trouble, it's usually quick to accept.

An injurious truth has no merit over an injurious lie. Neither should ever be uttered. The man who speaks an injurious truth, lest his soul be not saved if he do otherwise, should reflect that that sort of a soul is not strictly worth saving.

There is nothing harder, at moments, than talking to someone who has all the power of silence.

I don't say anything and I feel awful. I tell somebody and I feel worse. I'm having trouble finding a middle ground.

One who steals has no right to complain if he is robbed.

Would the world ever have been made if its maker had been afraid of making trouble?Making life means making trouble. There’s only one way of escaping trouble; and that’s killing things.

Lies save trouble now, but may return in thunder and lightning.

...it was better to answer, no matter how ineptly, thank to withhold a reply. Because sometimes silence could wound someone nearly as badly as a bullet.