Our world was never wrenched from its true course.
-- Praise-Singer (Chapter 1 paragraph 6)

Importance: In the beginning of the play, the Praise-Singer talks to Elesin about duty, and how no matter what happens, duty must be done. The British can appear or disappear, but duty must always be executed. No matter what external things change, the world of the Yoruba continues on. This foreshadows Elesin's later desperation to place blame externally for his failure to fulfill his own duty.

Life is honor. It ends when honor ends.
-- Elesin (Chapter 1 paragraph 11)

Importance: Here, Elesin speaks of figurative death (see themes section, "Death"). He says that life is composed only of honor, and that without honor, life does not exist. It cannot exist. Here, he foreshadows his own coming fate.

Only the curses of the departed are to be feared.
-- Iyaloja (Chapter 1 paragraph 16)

Importance: Owing to her duty of carrying on with Yoruba customs, Iyajola tells the others that they should only fear dishonor done...