# Quote — Chinua Achebe, No Longer at Ease

> You cannot plant greatness as you plant yams or maize. Who ever planted an iroko tree — the greatest tree in the forest? You may collect all the iroko seeds in the world, open the soil and put them there. It will be in vain. The great tree chooses where to grow and we find it there, so it is with the greatness in men.

- Author: [Chinua Achebe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chinua-achebe.md)
- Book: [No Longer at Ease](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chinua-achebe/no-longer-at-ease.md)
- Page: 57
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Chinua_Achebe#No_Longer_at_Ease_(1960)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/chinua-achebe/no-longer-at-ease/you-cannot-plant

## More from this book

> A man to whom you do a favor will not understand if you say nothing, make no noise, just walk away. You may cause more trouble by refusing a bribe than by accepting it.

p. 87 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chinua-achebe/no-longer-at-ease/a-man-to-whom.md)

> Real tragedy is never resolved. It goes on hopelessly forever. Conventional tragedy is too easy. The hero dies and we feel a purging of the emotions. A real tragedy takes place in a corner, in an untidy spot, to quote W. H. Auden.

p. 43 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chinua-achebe/no-longer-at-ease/real-tragedy-is-never.md)

> When there is a big tree small ones climb on its back to reach the sun.

p. 95 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chinua-achebe/no-longer-at-ease/when-there-is-a-big.md)