“I will not let a political party tell me how to live, when to die or what to believe in. Our souls are linked to the universe, but we can never see heaven, because our flesh ties us to the earth and the people around us. But when the people around you have lost their will to be free, then earth becomes a hell.” PeopleBelieveSoulEarthPoliticalDiesUniverseLostHeavenPartyHellFleshTiesLinkedPolitical Parties Author:Ma Jian
“I meant that the Chinese people are not aware of their own entrapment. They believe they live in a free society, but don't realize how much they are being monitored and controlled, how much the information they receive is restricted and warped, until they step out of line, that is, and feel the heavy hand of the state fall on them.” PeopleFeelsBelieveStatesHandsFallRealizingLinesStepsInformationHeavyChineseControlledFree SocietyEntrapment Author:Ma Jian
“My hope is that the Chinese government will come to realise that it is futile to repress free speech, and that contrary to what they believe a regime's strength rests not its suppression of a plurality of opinions and ideas, but in its capacity and willingness to encourage them.” BelieveIdeasGovernmentOpinionSpeechCapacityContraryChineseWillingnessRealisingRegimesFree SpeechSuppressionChinese Government Author:Ma Jian
“I believe that the power of literature is stronger than the power of tyranny.” BelieveLiteratureI BelieveStrongerTyranny Author:Ma Jian
