With the beginning of life, comes the thirst for truth, whereas the ability to lie is gradually acquired in the process of trying to stay alive.
Gao XingjianRead
I was born Chinese, and I write in Chinese. I don't think there's any need to evade this... to a writer, as to a person, what matters is not his political label or his nationality, but whether he is a person and whether his work is worth looking at.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The essence of a writer is their humanity and the quality of their work, not their nationality or political identity.
Gao Xingjian emphasizes that his identity as a Chinese writer is inseparable from his artistic expressions. However, he argues that true value lies not in political affiliations or national origin, but in the intrinsic worth of the writer's work and their humanity. This perspective invites readers to appreciate literature beyond superficial labels and recognize the universal qualities that resonate within art.
Themes
WritingArtIdentityHumanityQuality
In practice
Example use cases
In a literary discussion on identity, this quote can illustrate the importance of universal values in art.
More from Gao Xingjian
All quotes →For me, writing [was] a question of survival...I could not trust anyone, even my family. The atmosphere was so poisoned. People even in your own family could turn you in.
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Young man, nature is not frightening, it's people who are frightening! You just need to get to know nature and it will become friendly. This creature known as man is of course highly intelligent, he's capable of manufacturing almost anything from rumours to test-tube babies and yet he destroys two to three species every day. This is the absurdity of man.
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If you're not perfectly conscious of yourself, that self can be tyrannical; in relationship to others, anyone can become a tyrant. That's why no one can be a Superman. You have to go beyond yourself with a 'third eye' - self-awareness - because the one thing you cannot flee is yourself.
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Since childhood, I'd dreamed of making a film, but producers in France and Germany wanted to make commercial films with chinoiserie. I refused.
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Literature transcends national boundaries, racial boundaries. It goes deep into the issues that concern all human beings. That is why, when people read Greek tragedy - it doesn't matter who reads it - they are still moved by it.
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