The most important thing about myself is that my life has been full of changes. Therefore, when I observe the world, I don't expect to see it just like I was seeing the fellow who lives in the next room.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the significance of change in one's life and the understanding it brings about the world.
Chinua Achebe highlights the inevitability and importance of change as a fundamental aspect of life. Through his experiences and observations, he comes to understand that everyone perceives the world through their unique lens shaped by their personal changes, leading to a recognition that different perspectives exist and should be acknowledged.
In practice
During a motivational speech about adapting to new circumstances.
In fact, I thought that Christianity was very a good and a very valuable thing for us. But after a while, I began to feel that the story that I was told about this religion wasn't perhaps completely whole, that something was left out.
Writers don't give prescriptions. They give headaches!
Mr. Brown had thought of nothing but numbers. He should have known that the kingdom of God did not depend on large crowds. Our Lord Himself stressed the importance of fewness. Narrow is the way and few the number. To fill the Lord's holy temple with an idolatrous crowd clamoring for signs was a folly of everlasting consequence. Our Lord used the whip only once in His life - to drive the crowd away from His church.
It is the storyteller who makes us what we are, who creates history. The storyteller creates the memory that the survivors must have - otherwise their surviving would have no meaning.
Writing has always been a serious business for me. I felt it was a moral obligation. A major concern of the time was the absence of the African voice. Being part of that dialogue meant not only sitting at the table but effectively telling the African story from an African perspective - in full earshot of the world.
An angry man is always a stupid man.
Time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life.
Sometimes we are blessed with being able to choose the time, and the arena, and the manner of our revolution, but more usually we must do battle where we are standing.
For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps.
There is no debate about whether or not climate change is happening. We will deal with it as a challenge. But we also take it as an opportunity to invest.
Part of being a revolutionary is creating a vision that is more humane. That is more fun, too. That is more loving. It's really working to create something beautiful.
Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.