In a society like this there is no negotiation, no discussion, except to tell you that power can crush you any time they want — not only you, your whole family and all people like you.
AI WEIWEIDuring the days in detention, I thought most about the moon.
More Ai Weiwei Quotes
-
-
[Shanghai Biennale] has been my attitude for as long as I’ve been practicing art and other cultural-related activities.
AI WEIWEI -
We never really see the global situation as a total situation. Today’s political leaders are still lacking of the vision.
AI WEIWEI -
I don’t believe in a sense of home.
AI WEIWEI -
If civil society has nobody who protects the law, then what kind of society is that?
AI WEIWEI -
The relationship between the Chinese government and me is like a Cold War.
AI WEIWEI -
Selling high or low doesn’t mean anything. It has to do purely with the market.
AI WEIWEI -
[Cultural departments] don’t care about culture. Maybe they’re the furthest from the people who understand culture.
AI WEIWEI -
What counts in the end is what the government does.
AI WEIWEI -
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.
AI WEIWEI -
These folks are creative and ironic, and the government can ultimately not control what is going on in their heads.
AI WEIWEI -
I think Allen [Ginsberg] was a person who’s like a child.
AI WEIWEI -
So, the politicians and the people who make decisions very often is the one we think can make some difference. But of course they will not make a difference if the citizens or the individuals not push it or not to speak out, to possess a very strong voice about, this is not acceptable.
AI WEIWEI -
Today, the general masses in this society are in this political-social condition that really encourages people to become rich and become a star and be unique.
AI WEIWEI -
A state like China looks so powerful, but they are so scared of the Internet, so the Internet is more powerful than them.
AI WEIWEI -
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.
AI WEIWEI