p. 19. "A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness."
Okonkwo explaining why he has come to Nwakibie.
- p. 21. "An old woman is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb."
Okonkwo remembering his own father. In context of a joke about someone who refused to honor his fathers shrine with a fowl.
- p. 21. "The lizard that jumped from the high iroko tree to the ground said he would praise himself if no one else did." – Okonkwo, explaining his capacity for hard work before Nwakibie, his sons and neighbors.
- p. 26. "Those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble." - Okonkwo's arrogance in calling Osugo a "woman" at the meeting of the people.
- p.67. "The Earth cannot punish me for obeying her messenger." "A child’s fingers are not scalded by a piece of hot yam which its mother puts into its palm. Okonkwo's role in Ikeme funa’s death.
