Helen Oyeyemi - People Quotes

4 Sourced Quotes

View all Helen Oyeyemi Quotes

Imagine having a mother who worries that you read too much. The question is, what is it that's supposed to happen to people who read too much? How can you tell when someone's crossed the line.

Helen Oyeyemi

Once you let people know anything about what you think, that's it, you're dead. Then they'll be jumping about in your mind, taking things out, holding them up to the light and killing them, yes, killing them, because thoughts are supposed to stay and grow in quiet, dark places, like butterflies in cocoons.

Helen Oyeyemi

Solitary people, these book lovers. I think it's swell that there are people you don't have to worry about when you don't see them for a long time, you don't have to wonder what they do, how they're getting along with themselves. You just know that they're all right, and probably doing something they like.

Helen Oyeyemi

You don't return people's smiles—it's perfectly clear to you that people can smile and smile and still be villains.

Helen Oyeyemi