Things Fall Apart Important Quotes:

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

source: Chinua Achebe (1996). “Things Fall Apart”, p.37, Heinemann

topic: Children, Men, Okonkwo, Things Fall Apart Important, Things Fall Apart Okonkwo

If a child washed his hands, he could eat with kings.

- Chinua Achebe

source: Chinua Achebe (1996). “Things Fall Apart”, p.6, Heinemann

topic: Kings, Children, Hands, Things Fall Apart Important, Things Fall Apart Okonkwo

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

source: Chinua Achebe (2009). “Things Fall Apart: Authoritative Text, Contexts and Criticism”, W W Norton & Company Incorporated

topic: Brother, Clever, Fall, Very Clever, Okonkwo

We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and they fall apart.

- Pema Chodron

source: Pema Chodron (2000). “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times”, p.11, Shambhala Publications

topic: Fall, Thinking, Together, Things Fall Apart Important

We shall all live. We pray for life, children, a good harvest and happiness. You will have what is good for you and I will have what is good for me. Let the kite perch and let the egret perch too. If one says no to the other, let his wing break.

- Chinua Achebe

source: Chinua Achebe (2009). “Things Fall Apart: Authoritative Text, Contexts and Criticism”, W W Norton & Company Incorporated

topic: Children, Wings, Kites, Things Fall Apart Important, Things Fall Apart Okonkwo

Things fall apart; the center cannot hold...

- William Butler Yeats

topic: Life, Fall, Falling Apart, Things Fall Apart Important

Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.

- Chinua Achebe

topic: Art, Oil, Conversation, Palm Oil, Art Of Conversation

Living fire begets cold, impotent ash.

- Chinua Achebe

source: Chinua Achebe (1996). “Things Fall Apart”, p.109, Heinemann

topic: Fire, Okonkwo, Ashes, Things Fall Apart Important, Things Fall Apart Okonkwo

There is no story that is not true.

- Chinua Achebe

topic: Stories, Abomination, Things Fall Apart Important, Things Fall Apart Okonkwo

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

source: Chinua Achebe (1996). “Things Fall Apart”, p.19, Heinemann

topic: Men, Okonkwo, People, Things Fall Apart Important, Things Fall Apart Okonkwo

Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.

- William Butler Yeats

source: "The Second Coming" l. 1 (1921)

topic: Fall, Blood, Passionate, Falcon, Things Fall Apart Important

When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk

- Chinua Achebe

topic: Inspirational, Life, Moon, Things Fall Apart Important, Things Fall Apart Okonkwo

Feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we’re holding back. They teach us to perk up and lean in when we feel we’d rather collapse and back away. They’re like messengers that show us, with terrifying clarity, exactly where we’re stuck. This very moment is the perfect teacher, and, lucky for us, it’s with us wherever we are.

- Pema Chodron

source: "When Things Fall Apart". Book by Pema Chödrön, December 24, 1996.

topic: Teacher, Disappointment, Irritation, Bad News, Perks

Give 'em all the same grub and all the same pay/And the war would be over and done in a day." - All Quiet On The Western Front, Ch. 3

- Erich Maria Remarque

topic: War, Giving, Would Be, War Movie, Birdsong

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

topic: Kings, Children, Hands, Things Fall Apart Important, Things Fall Apart Okonkwo

Beware Okonkwo!" she warned. "Beware of exchanging words with Agbala. Does a man speak when a god speaks? Beware!

- Chinua Achebe

source: Chinua Achebe (2009). “Things Fall Apart: Authoritative Text, Contexts and Criticism”, W W Norton & Company Incorporated

topic: Men, Okonkwo, Doe, Exchanging, Things Fall Apart Important

We have heard stories about white men who make the powerful guns and the strong drinks and took slaves away across the seas, but no one thought the stories were true.

- Chinua Achebe

topic: Strong, Powerful, Men, Strong Drink, Abomination

The sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them.

- Chinua Achebe

topic: Shining, Sun, Things Fall Apart Important, Things Fall Apart Okonkwo

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

source: Chinua Achebe (2009). “Things Fall Apart: Authoritative Text, Contexts and Criticism”, W W Norton & Company Incorporated

topic: Life, Men, Transition, Things Fall Apart Important, Things Fall Apart Okonkwo

When things are shaky and nothing is working, we might realize that we are on the verge of something. We might realize that this is a very vulnerable and tender place, and that tenderness can go either way. We can shut down and feel resentful or we can touch in on that throbbing quality. (9)

- Pema Chodron

source: Pema Chodron (2000). “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times”, p.10, Shambhala Publications

topic: Quality, Down And, Might, Verge, Things Fall Apart Important

I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

- Marilyn Monroe

topic: Love, Inspirational, Life, When Things Go Wrong, Times Have Changed

An old woman is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb

- Chinua Achebe

topic: Dry, Bones, Old Woman, Okonkwo, Dry Bones

Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible in us be found.

- Pema Chodron

topic: Life, Determination, Commitment, Indestructible, Things Fall Apart Important

Most of us do not take these situations as teachings. We automatically hate them. We run like crazy. We use all kinds of ways to escape - all addictions stem from this moment when we meet our edge and we just can't stand it. We feel we have to soften it, pad it with something, and we become addicted to whatever it is that seems to ease the pain.

- Pema Chodron

source: "When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times". Book by Pema Chodron, September 26, 2000.

topic: Running, Pain, Hate, Things Fall Apart Important