A home without daughters is like a spring without a source.
-- Odero Gogni (chapter 1)

Importance: In the beginning of the first chapter, this quote introduces the idea of daughters and women having value in society. Odero Gogni is the chief of the village Yimbo, and he expects to have another son but is surprised when he has Akoko, his first daughter. Traditionally, sons are treated with more respect and given more importance in society. However, Odero's comments indicate that he does not feel this way at all and in fact thinks the presence of women is essential for any household to flourish. His words also tie back to the book's title, as they refer to the way in which women are a wellspring of life, much like the "source" of a river.

Her therapy was simple for there is no greater psychologist than the one who graduates from the hard school of life.
-- Narrator (chapter 9)

Importance: Following...