Observing humans and observing oneself yields a clear-minded starting point for literature. Gao Xingjian More Quotes by Gao Xingjian More Quotes From Gao Xingjian Dreams are more real than reality itself, they're closer to the self. Gao Xingjian real self dream Loneliness is a prerequisite for freedom. Freedom depends on the ability to reflect, and reflection can only begin when one is alone. Gao Xingjian ability loneliness reflection Writing eases my suffering . . . writing is my way of reaffirming my own existence. Gao Xingjian suffering ease writing Walk where your heart leads you, there are no restrictions and no burdens. Gao Xingjian burden freedom heart If you want to do anything, do it now, without compromise or concession, because you have only one life. Gao Xingjian concessions compromise want 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. Gao Xingjian quality writing lying 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. Gao Xingjian europe war moving In the history of literature there are many great enduring works which were not published in the lifetimes of the authors. If the authors had not achieved self-affirmation while writing, how could they have continued to write? Gao Xingjian literature self writing I don't want to be a strong hero who can save society. I just want to save myself. Gao Xingjian strong hero want It's in literature that true life can be found. It's under the mask of fiction that you can tell the truth. Gao Xingjian true-life literature fiction A good work can be communicated across languages ... [provided one does not] fall into the trap of narrow-minded nationalistic or chauvinistic thinking. Gao Xingjian doe fall thinking Life is probably a tangle of love and hate permanently knotted together. Gao Xingjian love-and-hate hate together For me, writing [was] a question of survival...I could not trust anyone, even my family. The atmosphere was so poisoned. People even in your own family could turn you in. Gao Xingjian atmosphere writing people Love is so holy, so confusing. It makes a man anxious, tormented. Love, how can I define it? Gao Xingjian confusing love men 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? Gao Xingjian chinese country book Maybe there isn't a God after all, maybe there's only a universe rotating by itself like a millstone. Gao Xingjian rotating universe god Once the buttons are undone, you know how it'll all end. It's all in the game, there are no miracles. Gao Xingjian buttons miracle games In my view the time for rousing revolutionary literature has passed, because the revolution has already revolutionised itself to death and has left behind only bitterness and a sort of weariness, listlessness and even nausea. Gao Xingjian nausea literature views I believe in science but I also believe in fate. Gao Xingjian i-believe fate believe 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. Gao Xingjian language listening needs
