Chinua Achebe

A man who lived on the banks of the Niger should not wash his hands with spittle.

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

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.

Proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.

Whenever you see a toad jumping in broad daylight, then know that something is after its life.