“The human need for language is not simply for the transmission of meaning, it is at the same time listening to and affirming a person's existence.” NeedsHumansPersonsLanguageExistenceListeningHuman NeedsTransmissionAffirming Author:Gao Xingjian
“The human species does not necessarily move in stages from progress to progress ... history and civilization do not advance in tandem. From the stagnation of Medieval Europe to the decline and chaos in recent times on the mainland of Asia and to the catastrophes of two world wars in the twentieth century, the methods of killing people became increasingly sophisticated. Scientific and technological progress certainly does not imply that humankind as a result becomes more civilized.” PeopleWorldHumansDoeTwoWarMovingResultsProgressCenturyStageCivilizationEuropeMethodSpeciesChaosKillingWar Of The WorldsCivilizedDeclineHumankindWorld War ISophisticatedTechnologicalCatastropheAsiaTwentieth CenturyMedievalStagnationHuman SpeciesTwo WorldsTechnological ProgressTandemMedieval Europe Author:Gao Xingjian
“Literature remains an indispensable human activity, in which the reader and the writer are engaged of their own volition. Hence, literature has no duty to the masses or society, and ethical or moral pronouncements added by busybody critics are of no concern to the writer.” HumansLiteratureMoralDutyReaderActivityMassConcernRemainsCriticsEngagedEthicalIndispensableHuman ActivityVolitionBusybodies Author:Gao Xingjian
“When God talks to humans he doesn't want humans to hear his voice.” WantHumansVoice Author:Gao Xingjian
“Observing humans and observing oneself yields a clear-minded starting point for literature.” HumansLiteratureClearStartingOneselfObservationYieldObservingStarting Point Author:Gao Xingjian
“To subvert is not the aim of literature, its value lies in discovering and revealing what is rarely known, little known, thought to be known but in fact not very well known of the truth of the human world. It would seem that truth is the unassailable and most basic quality of literature.” WorldWritingHumansWellsLittlesFactsSeemsLyingValuesLiteratureQualityKnownTruth IsAimDiscoveringWell KnownRevealing Author:Gao Xingjian
