The misconception of totalitarianism is that freedom can be imprisoned. This is not the case. When you constrain freedom, freedom will take flight and land on a windowsill.
AI WEIWEII don’t believe in a sense of home.
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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Any politician who respects China’s government should tell it openly what is in his heart. It is disrespectful to keep quiet about such issues – both vis-a-vis the government and the people concerned.
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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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We grew up in a very material-lacking socialist society, but today China is a capitalist society. It’s very materialistic. It’s full of desire and luxury goods.
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We’re different, and you’re dangerous.” That kind of thinking stops human, civilized evolution. It’s dangerous to create that kind of tension.
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The society was so different [in China] – it was a feudalistic society. It didn’t come to a point of industrial revolution until twenty years ago.
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It [success] is really by mistake.
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We never really see the global situation as a total situation. Today’s political leaders are still lacking of the vision.
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I think the government regrets having Sina Weibo, but they cannot shut it down. That would definitely be suicidal.
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I always want people to be confused, to be shocked or realize something later.
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The Internet has established a public sphere and developed a pressure which the government can no longer ignore.
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New York has given me a lot, but I still don’t consider it home.
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In the end, I think, the state’s rigidity is a function of its own insecurity, its indecisiveness.
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Paintings can be painted with the left hand, the right hand, someone else’s hand, or many people’s hands. The scale of production is irrelevant to its content.
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If there is no freedom of expression, then the beauty of life is lost. Participation in a society is not an artistic choice, it’s a human need.
AI WEIWEI