Ai Weiwei Quotes, Country Quotes, Sacrifice Quotes

We see the tendency in the world to criticise democracy and sometimes even to say that authoritarian countries like China are more efficient. That is very short-sighted. China looks efficient only because it can sacrifice most people's rights. This is not something the west should be happy about.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Country Quotes , Sacrifice Quotes

Chinese citizens have never had the right to really express their opinions; in the constitution it says you can, but in the real world it is more dangerous. In the west people think it's a right they're born with. Here it's a right given by the government, and one that's not really practised.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Real Quotes , Thinking Quotes

I think the pearls - one is a necklace, and another you have five hundred pounds of pearls, which may be one million pearls in a bowl - really show a kind of [society] condition.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Thinking Quotes , Necklaces Quotes

I often feel more disgust than pride about this kind of success. So there's no regret whatsoever.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Regret Quotes , Pride Quotes

My situation gives me certain ideas about beauty or the excitement of life, but that doesn't mean other people can necessarily appreciate it.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Mean Quotes , Ideas Quotes

A city is a place that can offer maximum freedom. Otherwise it’s incomplete.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Cities Quotes , Incomplete Quotes

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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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Years Quotes , Twenties Quotes

It's really rubbish that some kind of "technical" learning means you will be a better person because you know this skill better.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Mean Quotes , Skills Quotes

I believe [the architecture firm] Herzog and de Meuron and our collaboration made the product the best it could be.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Believe Quotes , Collaboration Quotes

If artists cannot speak up for human dignity or rights, then who else will do it?

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Artist Quotes , Rights Quotes

The Internet changes the structure of society all the time — this massiveness made of individuals.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Internet Quotes , Individual Quotes

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.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Heart Quotes , Issues Quotes

Cities really are mental conditions. Beijing is a nightmare. A constant nightmare.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Cities Quotes , Nightmare Quotes

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.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Country Quotes , Powerful Quotes

Everyone thinks the Chinese government selected me. Never ever. I was selected by Herzog and de Meuron.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Thinking Quotes , Government Quotes

To work in architecture you are so much involved with society, with politics, with bureaucrats. It's a very complicated process to do large projects. You start to see the society, how it functions, how it works. Then you have a lot of criticism about how it works.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Badass Quotes , Bad Ass Quotes

New York was not a romantic city at [80th]. Nobody knows who you are and you don't have to care about anybody else. It's a very cold city, I should say.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , New York Quotes , Cities Quotes

The Internet is uncontrollable. And if the Internet is uncontrollable, freedom will win. It's as simple as that.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Winning Quotes , Simple Quotes

My angst and my insecurity reflect the state's angst and insecurity. The state is scared too.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Insecurity Quotes , Scared Quotes

Nationality started as something natural, but we should not be restrained by the old politics that make up these clear lines. It should have its own way of evolving. In some places, it will evolve slower and in others, faster. It's like the mountains, the ocean and the rivers. It has its own geological forms. Societies cannot be flat. But during change, human rights, human dignity and free speech have to be protected. Otherwise, we'll be going backward.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Ocean Quotes , Mountain Quotes