Chi­ma­man­da Ngo­zi Adi­chie: Trending quotes (page 4)

“What if, in raising children, we focus on ability instead of gender? What if we focus on interest instead of gender?”

“… he did not want me to seek the whys, because there are some things that happen for which we can formulate no whys, for which whys simply do not exist and, perhaps, are not necessary.”

“Is love this misguided need to have you beside me most of the time? Is love this safety I feel in our silences? Is it this belonging, this completeness?”

“You know, you’re a feminist.” It was not a compliment. I could tell from his tone—the same tone with which a person would say, “You’re a supporter of terrorism.”

“People have crushes on priests all the time, you know. It’s exciting to have to deal with God as a rival.”

“Because when there is true equality, resentment does not exist.”

“People will selectively use “tradition” to justify anything.”

“I like politics and history and am happiest when having a good argument about ideas.”

“I was stained by failure.”

“And her joy would become a restless thing, flapping its wings inside her, as though looking for an opening to fly away.”

“Grief was the celebration of love, those who could feel real grief were lucky to have loved.”

“There are people who dislike you because you do not dislike yourself.”

“Each time he suggested they get married, she said no. They were too happy, precariously so, and she wanted to guard that bond; she feared that marriage would flatten it into a prosaic partnership.”

“How was it possible to miss something you no longer wanted?”

“In America, you don’t get to decide what race you are. It is decided for you.”

“Teach her to question language. Language is the repository of our prejudices, our beliefs, our assumptions.”

“We do not just risk repeating history if we sweep it under the carpet, we also risk being myopic about our present.”

““ The only reason you say that race was not an issue is because you wish it was not. We all wish it”

“I don’t think I’m more inherently likely to do domestic work, or childcare ... It doesn’t come pre-programmed in your vagina, right?”