...photographs are facts, but not necessarily true... The present always surpasses the past, and the future will not care about today.

I don’t want the next generation to fight the same fight as I did.

I don't think my father had a direct influence on me, but I do think, more or less, I was influenced by his independent individualism. And the kind of condition he had when he was in this society - the kind of mistreatment society gave him.

Life is never guaranteed to be safe, so we better use it while we are still in good condition.

The importance of elections, transparency, legal procedures, an independent army, and the judicial system is not regarded as highly in China. These core values are the most important evidence of the health of a society, quality of life, and security. A clear understanding of such differences will help the rest of the world understand China and all that is happening to the nation.

I lived there [ in New York City] as an artist, but never as a Chinese artist.

I spend a lot of time talking to journalists.