Once a novel gets going and I know it is viable, I don't then worry about plot or themes. These things will come in almost automatically because the characters are now pulling the story. Chinua Achebe automaticallycharacterplot Change image and share on social
I don't care about age very much. I think back to the old people I knew when I was growing up, and they always seemed larger than life. Chinua Achebe agebackcare Change image and share on social
They have not always elected the best leaders, particularly after a long period in which they have not used this facility of free election. You tend to lose the habit. Chinua Achebe electelectionfacility Change image and share on social
The damage done in one year can sometimes take ten or twenty years to repair. Chinua Achebe damagerepairten Change image and share on social
I've had trouble now and again in Nigeria because I have spoken up about the mistreatment of factions in the country because of difference in religion. These are things we should put behind us. Chinua Achebe countrydifferencefaction Change image and share on social
I tell my students, it's not difficult to identify with somebody like yourself, somebody next door who looks like you. What's more difficult is to identify with someone you don't see, who's very far away, who's a different color, who eats a different kind of food. When you begin to do that then literature is really performing its wonders. Chinua Achebe begincolordifficult share on social
Each of my books is different. Deliberately... I wanted to create my society, my people, in their fullness. Chinua Achebe bookcreatedeliberately Change image and share on social
Many writers can't make a living. So to be able to teach how to write is valuable to them. But I don't really know about its value to the student. I don't mean it's useless. But I wouldn't have wanted anyone to teach me how to write. Chinua Achebe livemakestudent share on social
When old people speak it is not because of the sweetness of words in our mouths; it is because we see something which you do not see. Chinua Achebe mouthpeoplespeak Change image and share on social
There's no lack of writers writing novels in America, about America. Therefore, it seems to me it would be wasteful for me to add to that huge number of people writing here when there are so few people writing about somewhere else. Chinua Achebe addamericahuge share on social