I never really read Allen Ginsberg poetry, even though I have a book he gave me.
AI WEIWEII came back [to Beijing ] because that’s the only time I had an excuse to come back, or otherwise I would never have a reason to come back.
More Ai Weiwei Quotes
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The whole attitude of society has become much more open and realistic. They realize that the only way to make a more democratic and free society is to let different opinions come out.
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To experience poetry is to see over and above reality. It is to discover that which is beyond the physical, to experience another life and another level of feeling.
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This so-called contemporary art is not a form, but a philosophy of society.
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I loved New York — every inch of it. It was a little bit scary at that time, but still, the excitement was so strong — visually and intellectually. It was like a monster.
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I think Allen [Ginsberg] was a person who’s like a child.
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I always want people to be confused, to be shocked or realize something later.
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The people will always have the last word – even if someone has a very weak, quiet voice. Such power will collapse because of a whisper.
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I don’t belong to a working system. They only select people if you belong to one so you can be controlled.
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Once you’ve tasted freedom, it stays in your heart and no one can take it. Then, you can be more powerful than a whole country.
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In this kind of dictatorship, in this kind of totalitarian society, it is easy to make deals that you cannot make in a democratic society.
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The project or a few ideas which are not finished or if there are possible directions and what will lead into another game. It’s always like setting up some kind of game you can continuously play.
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You don’t have to march on Tiananmen, but you do have to be clear-minded, to find your own means of expression.
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Behind every political deal in this country, the first casualties are always the ordinary people, who are barely treated as human.
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If we all say the same thing, then I think the government has to listen. But because no one is saying it, I become singled out, even though what I’m saying is common sense.
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It’s not really an ideology, but a method of control. But China’s problems are not just China’s problems – they’re human problems. Humanity has always worked better when you see it as one.
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I’m totally independent. I don’t bear any responsibility to any system.
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There’s no such thing as “fixed” culture. China is also becoming more global. Its problems are becoming international problems, becoming German problems, becoming American problems.
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I call on people to be ‘obsessed citizens,’ forever questioning and asking for accountability. That’s the only chance we have today of a healthy and happy life.
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As long as I can communicate, I’m not so lonely. If I cannot travel, or do art, or have company, if they take away all my belongings, it doesn’t matter at all.
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[Museums] all belongs to the cultural department, which is the biggest cultural department in the world.
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My definition of art has always been the same. It is about freedom of expression, a new way of communication. It is never about exhibiting in museums or about hanging it on the wall.
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When you have strict censorship of the internet, young students cannot receive a full education. Their view of the world is imbalanced. There can be no true discussion of the issues.
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It is not an easy job to govern China, I am aware of that. There are crises and emergencies all the time, we might not even be aware of some. But I am afraid we’ll have to wait and observe precisely what the government is up to.
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If a master, a wise and experienced man, wields a great weapon, that’s beautiful. He can serve peace with it. But if someone’s emotions are imbalanced, even if he has the best equipment,
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And the kind of condition he had when he was in this society – the kind of mistreatment society gave him.
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Stupidity can win for a moment, but it can never really succeed because the nature of humans is to seek freedom. Rulers can delay that freedom, but they cannot stop it.
AI WEIWEI