I hope that I will be the last victim in China's long record of treating words as crimes.
Liu XiaoboRead
Free expression is the base of human rights, the root of human nature and the mother of truth. To kill free speech is to insult human rights, to stifle human nature and to suppress truth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Free expression underpins human rights and is essential for uncovering truth.
This quote by Liu Xiaobo emphasizes the vital role of free expression in society. It posits that free speech is not only fundamental to human rights but also intrinsic to our nature as humans, and essential for revealing the truth. Suppressing free speech is equated to undermining the very essence of human rights and stifling the inherent dignity of individuals.
Themes
Free ExpressionHuman RightsTruthSpeechNature
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of human rights, one could use this quote to stress why free expression is fundamental.
More from Liu Xiaobo
All quotes →In order to exercise the right to freedom of speech conferred by the Constitution, one should fulfill the social responsibility of a Chinese citizen.
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Ultimately, change will happen when problems persist and enough people are concerned.
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There is no force that can put an end to the human quest for freedom, and China will, in the end, become a nation ruled by law, where human rights reign supreme.
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If there has been any progress in the Chinese society and politics over the last 20 years, it is all because the citizens have been pushing for change.
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For those of us in the opposition movement under dictatorships, part of our job is confronting police and spending time in prison. So, a dissident not only needs to learn how to oppose oppression but also how to face the crackdowns and time in prison.
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