To need to dominate others is to need others. The commander is dependent.

The less intelligent the white man is, the more stupid he thinks the black.

Africa has her mysteries, and even a wise man cannot understand them. But a wise man respects them.

Once any group in society stands in a relatively deprived position in relation to other groups, it is genuinely deprived.

The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.

Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.

When the missionaries first came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, “Let us pray.” We closed our eyes. When we opened them, we had the Bible and they had the land.

In settling an island, the first building erected by a Spaniard will be a church, by a Frenchman a fort, by a Dutchman a warehouse, and by an Englishman an alehouse.

Let the French but have England, and they won’t want to conquer it.

It’s good to remember that in crises, natural crises, human beings forget for a while their ignorances, their biases, their prejudices. For a little while, neighbors help neighbors and strangers help strangers.

Some of us would be greatly astonished to learn the reasons why others respect us.

Such then is the human state, that to wish greatness for one’s country is to wish harm to one’s neighbors.