#si

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. It's very essential values that we all have to protect. But in Chinese society, people are giving up on protecting these values. ↗

— Ai Weiwei

#become #chinese #common #common sense #essential

Since the global economic crisis began, the change in global attitudes is clear to see - and I think it is pitiful. Barack Obama came to China and he is probably the only president of the United States never to mention the words 'human rights' in public. ↗

— Ai Weiwei

#barack #barack obama #began #came #change

The 'Bird's Nest' National Stadium, which I helped to conceive, is designed to embody the Olympic spirit of 'fair competition.' It tells people that freedom is possible but needs fairness, courage and strength. ↗

— Ai Weiwei

#competition #conceive #courage #designed #embody

The Beijing Olympics and the Shanghai World Expo show just how much effort China is willing to spend to enter the global stage. But while China desires to understand the world, it fails to accept its universal values. ↗

— Ai Weiwei

#beijing #china #desires #effort #enter

The Chinese art world does not exist. In a society that restricts individual freedoms and violates human rights, anything that calls itself creative or independent is a pretence. It is impossible for a totalitarian society to create anything with passion and imagination. ↗

— Ai Weiwei

#art #art world #calls #chinese #create

To protect the right of expression is the central part of an artist's activity... In China many essential rights are lacking, and I wanted to remind people of this. ↗

— Ai Weiwei

#artist #central #china #essential #expression

When you have strict censorship of the internet, young students cannot receive a full education. Their view of the world is imbalanced. There can be no true discussion of the issues. ↗

— Ai Weiwei

#censorship #discussion #education #full #internet

I had to put my kid before my career and all the money I was making. I decided to do the right thing. I was dying inside. If I didn't have my daughter, I would be dead right now, for sure. ↗

— Brian Welch

#career #daughter #dead #decided #do the right thing

I loved music, but I found myself at the point where I wanted to die. I didn't care about life. ↗

— Brian Welch

#care #die #found #i #life

The productivity now at universities is terrible. Tenure is a terrible idea. It keeps them around forever and they don't have to work hard. ↗

— Jack Welch

#forever #hard #idea #keeps #now