I think my stance and my way of life is my most important art.
Ai WeiweiRead
We should also leave behind discrimination, because it is narrow-minded and ignorant, denies contact and warmth; and corrodes mankind's belief that we can better ourselves. The only way to avoid misunderstanding, war and bloodshed is to defend freedom of expression and to communicate with sincerity, concern and good intentions.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of freedom of expression and sincere communication to overcome discrimination and misunderstanding.
Ai Weiwei's quote highlights the detrimental effects of discrimination, portraying it as a product of narrow-mindedness and ignorance. He advocates for the necessity of sincere communication and freedom of expression as fundamental tools in fostering understanding and progress among humanity, suggesting that these values can help mitigate the potential for conflict and promote a more inclusive and compassionate society.
Themes
DiscriminationFreedomCommunicationSincerityIgnorance
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about civil rights to support the arguments for equality.
More from Ai Weiwei
All quotes →Self-censorship is insulting to the self. Timidity is a hopeless way forward.
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If there is no free speech, every single life has lived in vain
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Art is always about overcoming obstacles between the inner condition and the skill for expression.
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As a human being, member of society, you must clearly state your mind. It's a responsibility. It is the way you identify yourself otherwise you don't know who you are and why you are here.
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I am very much interested in the so-called useless object. I mean, it takes perfect craftsmanship, beautiful material carefully measured and crafted, but at the same time it’s really useless.
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