To poison a nation, poison its stories. A demoralised nation tells demoralised stories to itself. Beware of the storytellers who are not fully conscious of the importance of their gifts, and who are irresponsible in the application of their art:…

Quote by Ben Okri

Topics: Nations Quotes, Society Quotes

Don't despair too much if you see beautiful things destroyed, if you see them perish....

Don't despair too much if you see beautiful things destroyed, if you see them perish....

I went to London because, for me, it was the home of literature. I went...

I went to London because, for me, it was the home of literature. I went...

You see, I was told stories, we were all told stories as kids in Nigeria....

You see, I was told stories, we were all told stories as kids in Nigeria....

The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure,...

The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure,...

The worst realities of our age are manufactured realities. It is therefore our task, as...

The worst realities of our age are manufactured realities. It is therefore our task, as...

I lived rough, by my wits, was homeless, lived on the streets, lived on friends'...

I lived rough, by my wits, was homeless, lived on the streets, lived on friends'...

The higher the artist, the fewer the gestures. The fewer the tools, the greater the...

The higher the artist, the fewer the gestures. The fewer the tools, the greater the...

The greatest religions convert the world through stories.

The greatest religions convert the world through stories.

We plan our lives according to a dream that came to us in our childhood,...

We plan our lives according to a dream that came to us in our childhood,...

Only those who truly love and who are truly strong can sustain their lives as...

Only those who truly love and who are truly strong can sustain their lives as...

If there is anything better than to be loved it is loving.

If there is anything better than to be loved it is loving.

The acknowledged legislators of the world take the world as given. They dislike mysteries, for...

The acknowledged legislators of the world take the world as given. They dislike mysteries, for...

Literature doesn't have a country. Shakespeare is an African writer. His Falstaff, for example, is...

Literature doesn't have a country. Shakespeare is an African writer. His Falstaff, for example, is...

I was told stories, we were all told stories as kids in Nigeria. We had...

I was told stories, we were all told stories as kids in Nigeria. We had...

The magician and the politician have much in common: they both have to draw our...

The magician and the politician have much in common: they both have to draw our...

We have fallen into this very mean description of humanity. Naturalism in fiction is too...

We have fallen into this very mean description of humanity. Naturalism in fiction is too...

Politics is the art of the possible; creativity is the art of the impossible.

Politics is the art of the possible; creativity is the art of the impossible.

Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you unduly, for they...

Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you unduly, for they...

I criticize by creation, not by finding fault

I criticize by creation, not by finding fault

Another word for creativity is courage

Another word for creativity is courage