Nine quotes from White Teeth that still feel relevant today

White Teeth was first published in 2000 to wide critical acclaim, establishing Zadie Smith as one of the most dynamic voices in contemporary literature. A sprawling, ambitious debut novel, published when Smith was just 24, White Teeth brims with sharp wit and unforgettable characters, deftly exploring the intersections of history, family and cultural tension in London.

At its heart, the novel is a story about two families: the Joneses, led by the hapless but kind Archie, and the Iqbals, guided by the passionate and driven Samad. Through the story of their intertwined lives, Smith examines how personal choices and cultural legacies shape identities across generations. Packed with moments of humour and heartbreak, White Teeth continues to resonate 25 years on, thanks to its nuanced exploration of race, religion, and the universal struggle to feel at home in the world.

White Teeth remains as powerful and relevant today as when it was first published. In honour of thebook’s 25th anniversary, we’ve gathered some of our very favourite quotes that continue to resonate, decades after the book’s first publication.

1. “Every moment happens twice: inside and outside, and they are two different histories.”

This line encapsulates the duality that runs throughout White Teeth. Spoken in the context of Samad’s internal conflict over his cultural and religious identity, it highlights the tension between external expectations and internal desires. The idea of "two histories" evokes the experience of living in two worlds: the legacy of a past homeland and the culture of an adopted country.

2. “You are never stronger…than when you land on the other side of despair.”

This reflection from Archie, whose attempted suicide opens the novel, reverberates throughout White Teeth, as characters navigate their failures and aspirations. The quote underscores the novel’s exploration of resilience, showing how moments of despair can pave the way for renewal. Archie’s journey, along with others', highlights the complexities of hope and survival, reminding readers that even in life’s darkest times, transformation is possible.

3. “You must live life with the full knowledge that your actions will remain. We are creatures of consequence.”

This quote emphasises how personal actions are deeply intertwined with history, shaping not only individual lives but also future generations to come. It serves as a poignant reminder of the weight of responsibility we all bear, suggesting that decisions made in the present often have lasting ripple effects that extend far beyond our immediate circumstances.

4. “No fiction, no myths, no lies, no tangled webs – this is how Irie imagined her homeland. Because homeland is one of the magical fantasy words like unicorn and soul and infinity that have now passed into language.”

British-born Archie marries Clara, who has immigrated to London from Jamaica. Their daughter Irie’s perception of homeland as a mythical construct underscores White Teeth's central themes of identity and belonging. For Irie, the concept of homeland is elusive—an idealized, almost fantastical notion that exists more in imagination than in reality. Smith uses this idea to explore how cultural displacement and personal identity intertwine, revealing the complexities of heritage and self-discovery.

5. “What is past is prologue.”

This Shakespearean reference emerges in a discussion about how history shapes present-day choices. In White Teeth, the past—whether colonial legacies, personal regrets, or familial pressures—casts a long shadow over the characters’ lives. The quote highlights how history is never truly behind us; its influence persists, shaping identities and decisions in unexpected ways.

6. “It makes an immigrant laugh to hear the fears of the nationalist, scared of infection, penetration, miscegenation, when this is small fry compared to what the immigrant fears.”

This sharp commentary exposes the imbalance of power and fear in immigration discourse. Smith critiques xenophobia by contrasting the profound challenges immigrants face – identity, survival, and belonging – with the misguided fears of nationalists. The novel underscores how these tensions shape societies, highlighting the ongoing struggle between those seeking a new life and those resisting change with insight that remains as relevant today as when White Teeth was first published.

7. “If religion is the opiate of the people, tradition is an even more sinister analgesic, simply because it rarely appears sinister. If religion is a tight band, a throbbing vein, and a needle, tradition is a far homelier concoction: poppy seeds ground into tea; a sweet cocoa drink laced with cocaine; the kind of thing your grandmother might have made.”

In this quote, Zadie Smith explores the subtle power of tradition in shaping our lives. Unlike religion, which can appear as an oppressive force, tradition cloaks itself in familiarity, making it harder to recognize its hold. Smith likens it to comforting, yet potentially harmful, substances passed down through generations, showing how even harmless-seeming practices can shape beliefs and behaviours in ways we don't question.

8. “In the end, your past is not my past and your truth is not my truth and your solution - is not my solution.”

This statement highlights the complex nature of human experience. Zadie Smith acknowledges that everyone’s past, truth, and solutions are unique. Our perspectives are shaped by personal histories, values, and circumstances, which makes understanding or resolving issues through others' experiences difficult. It's a reminder that empathy requires recognition of these differences and the acceptance that one-size-fits-all solutions rarely work.

9. “It is a simple matter of what you will do when the chips are down, my friend. When the fat lady is singing. When the walls are falling in, and the sky is dark, and the ground is rumbling. In that moment our actions will define us.”

Zadie Smith captures a profound moment of truth: when life becomes uncertain, our actions define who we are. This quote emphasises that it's in the face of adversity – when everything is falling apart – that our true character emerges. The choices we make in those moments, when all might seem lost, can ultimately shape our identity and leave a lasting impression on others.