But loneliness is as delusive a belief in the pertinence of the world as is love: in choosing … - Yiyun Li

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What is striking is that from almost from the very beginning of certainly by September and October of 1963, as the book was being constructed, that [Alex] Haley was vetting - asking questions to the publisher and to the publisher's attorney regarding many of the things that Malcolm X was saying. He was worried that he would not have a book that would have the kind of sting that he wanted.

Yiyun Li

But loneliness is as delusive a belief in the pertinence of the world as is love: in choosing to feel lonely, as in choosing to love, one carves a space next to oneself to be filled by others - a friend, a lover, a toy poodle, a violinist on the radio.

Choosing, Loneliness, Lonely, Space, Toy

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No one is immune from either taking the wrong action or not taking action at all, but the sense that something is completely out of a person's control is stronger in China.

Action, China, Completely, Sense, Stronger, Taking Action

Some people in China don't look at freedom of speech as an abstract ideal, but more as a means to an end.

Freedom Of Speech, Ideal, Look, Mean, People

In China, your freedom is always limited, but this limitation applies to almost everyone. If someone does injustice to you, though, you have to find a way to avenge yourself - even by illegal measures. In a sense, injustice is more personal. This idea has always been in Chinese history. I think we read about freedom of speech, or lack of freedom of speech, in China so often. But I don't think people here in America think about how justice, or the idea of justice, is so important in a Chinese setting. It's probably more important than freedom of speech in the Chinese mindset at this moment.

History, Injustice, Justice, People, Thinking

If I didn't self-censor, I would be in jail, and then I wouldn't be effective at all.

Effective, Jail

There is a certain amount of politeness here in America, which is probably more than just politeness.

America, Amount, Certain, Politeness, Probably