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Quote by Gao Xingjian

“There are numerous layers to truth, and the simple and superficial statement of facts cannot satisfy the writer.”

Author

Gao Xingjian, born on January 4, 1940, in Guilin, Guangxi, China, is a renowned novelist. His works are known for their unique literary style and profound social criticism, and he has won numerous international literary awards. more

“Since it was announced that I had been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has condemned my works and criticized them harshly. All of my works are now banned from getting into China or being published in China. What author would want to return to a country that banned his or her books?”

Want Book Country Literature Return China Chinese Prize Ministry Nobel Nobel Prize Banned

Author:Gao Xingjian

“A good work can be communicated across languages ... [provided one does not] fall into the trap of narrow-minded nationalistic or chauvinistic thinking.”

Thinking Doe Fall Language Good Work Traps Narrow-minded Nationalistic

Author:Gao Xingjian

“You're safe only when you can't see anybody.”

Safe

Author:Gao Xingjian

“I decided that I did not want to follow any of these ideologies or trends, because these also exerted a kind of pressure, and obstructed absolute creative freedom.”

Want Kind Creative Decided Absolutes Pressure Ideology Trends Creative Freedom

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.”

Humans Literature Moral Duty Reader Activity Mass Concern Remains Critics Engaged Ethical Indispensable Human Activity Volition Busybodies

Author:Gao Xingjian

“In the century that has just passed, many of the intellectual elite went mad. It was as if, with the death of God, everyone suddenly turned into a saviour who wanted either to annihilate the obsolete world order or to establish a utopia. Naturally, there were writers among those who went mad. The fact that they had knowledge did not exempt intellectuals: there is madness everywhere. When one loses control over one's self, the result is madness.”

Ifs World Self Facts Wanted Order Loses Results Century Intellectual Madness Mad Elites Utopia Saviour Obsolete World Order

Author:Gao Xingjian

“I want to write a novel so profound that it would suffocate a fly.”

Want Writing Novel Profound

Book:Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather: Stories

Source: Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather: Stories

“The sand murmurs that it wants to swallow everything.”

Want Sand

Book:Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather: Stories

Source: Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather: Stories

“A good man never fights with a woman.”

Men Fighting Good Man

Book:Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather: Stories

Source: Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather: Stories

“They say it only takes an instant to have a dream; a dream can be compressed into hardtack.”

Dream Instant

Book:Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather: Stories

Source: Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather: Stories

Quote by Gao Xingjian

Author

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