“What I've come to learn is that the world is never saved in grand messianic gestures, but in the simple accumulation of gentle, soft, almost invisible acts of compassion, everyday acts of compassion. In South Africa they have a phrase called ubuntu. Ubuntu comes out of a philosophy that says, the only way for me to be human is for you to reflect my humanity back at me.” WorldWayHumansPhilosophyHumanitySimpleCompassionSouthEverydaySavedInvisibleGentlePhrasesGesturesSouth AfricaAccumulationUbuntu Author:Chris Abani
“You know, you can steel your heart against any kind of trouble, any kind of horror. But the simple act of kindness from a complete stranger will unstitch you.” KnowsHeartKindSimpleKindnessTroubleHorrorStrangerSteelActs Of KindnessSimple Acts Of Kindness Author:Chris Abani
“What I've come to learn is that the world is never saved in grand messianic gestures, but in the simple accumulation of gentle, soft, almost invisible acts of compassion.” WorldSimpleCompassionSavedInvisibleGentleGesturesAccumulation Author:Chris Abani
“My friend Ronald Gottesman says...that the cause of all our trouble is the belief in an essential, pure identity: religious, ethnic, historical, ideological.” BeliefCausesReligiousTroubleIdentityPureEssentialsMy FriendsHistoricalIdeological Author:Chris Abani
“What we know about who we are comes from stories. It's the agents of our imagination who really shape who we are.” KnowsStoriesImaginationShapesAgentsWho We Are Author:Chris Abani
“If you want to know about Africa, read our literature - and not just 'Things Fall Apart,' because that would be like saying, 'I've read 'Gone with the Wind' and so I know everything about America.'” IfsKnowsWantInspirationWould BeAmericaMotivationFallLiteratureGoneWindFalling Apart Author:Chris Abani
“Fiction and poetry are my first loves, but the really beautiful lyrical essay can do so much that other forms cannot.” FirstsBeautifulFormCan DoFictionFirst LoveEssaysLyricalReally Beautiful Author:Chris Abani
“In this time of the Internet and nonfiction, to be on an actual bookshelf in an actual bookstore is exciting in itself.” InternetExcitingNonfictionBookstoresBookshelves Author:Chris Abani
“People think that writing is writing, but actually writing is editing. Otherwise, you're just taking notes” PeopleThinkingWritingNotesEditing Author:Chris Abani
