In 1975, ... [speaking with Shiing Shen Chern], I told him I had finally learned ... the beauty of fiber-bundle theory and the profound Chern-Weil theorem. I said I found it amazing that gauge fields are exactly connections on fiber bundles, which the mathematicians developed without reference to the physical world. I added, "this is both thrilling and puzzling, since you mathematicians dreamed up these concepts out of nowhere." He immediately protested: "No, no. These concepts were not dreamed up. They were natural and real."

In the latter half of the last century the impact of the expanding influence of Western culture and economic system brought about in China a severe conflict.

I should like to say that I am as proud of my Chinese heritage and background as I am devoted to modern science, a part of human civilization of Western origin, to which I have dedicated and I shall continue to dedicate my work.

There are only two kinds of math books: Those you cannot read beyond the first sentence, and those you cannot read beyond the first page.

In the final analysis, the incident is seen as originating from an emotional expression of the frustration and anger of the proud people of China who had been subject to ever increasing oppression from without and decadent corruption from within.

Einstein's theory of General Relativity has a mathematical structure very similar to Yang-Mills theory.

The question was heatedly debated of how much Western culture should be brought into China.