Don't despair too much if you see beautiful things destroyed, if you see them perish. Because the best things are always growing in secret. Ben Okri beautifuldespairdestroy Change image and share on social
The fact of storytelling hints at a fundamental human unease, hints at human imperfection. Where there is perfection there is no story to tell. Ben Okri factfundamentalhint Change image and share on social
'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' had a formative effect on me. I think it's one of those works that if you encounter it very early you're doubly enchanted by the beauty of the language and the strangeness of the vision. It stays with you. Ben Okri ancientbeautydoubly share on social
I am one year older than Nigeria at 51. In a human life, 51 might be old. But it is very young for a nation. By that, I mean a Nigeria conscious of itself as a nation. Ben Okri conscioushumanlife Change image and share on social
The higher the artist, the fewer the gestures. The fewer the tools, the greater the imagination. The greater the will, the greater the secret failure. Ben Okri artistfailurefew Change image and share on social
You cannot come to a Nigerian restaurant without having pepper soup. Ben Okri nigerianpepperrestaurant Change image and share on social
The acknowledged legislators of the world take the world as given. They dislike mysteries, for mysteries cannot be coded, or legislated, and wonder cannot be made into law. And so these legislators police the accepted frontiers of things. Ben Okri acceptacknowledgecode share on social
Stories can conquer fear, you know. They can make the heart bigger. Ben Okri bigconquerfear Change image and share on social
Fire is one of my temperaments. It is behind all my work... Fire is a chemical presence. Ben Okri chemicalfirepresence Change image and share on social
The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering. Ben Okri authenticcapacitycreate Change image and share on social
