I think the isolation in China also has to do with people's memories being wiped out, collective memories … - Yiyun Li

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Trust that life is guiding you and showing you every step that is necessary to learn to be perfect. Have faith in yourself. You'll come through OK. Have faith in existence.

Yiyun Li

I think the isolation in China also has to do with people's memories being wiped out, collective memories as well as individual memories, by the fact that the recent history has been constantly rewritten and revised.

Collective, History, Isolation, Memories, Think, Thinking

Same Author Quotes

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