Murong Xuecun Quotes

• Why is contemporary China short of works that speak directly? Because we writers cannot speak directly, or rather we can only speak in an indirect way.Why does contemporary China lack good works that critique our current situation? Because our current situation may not be critiqued. We have not only lost the right to criticise, but the courage to do so.Why is modern China lacking in great writers? Because all the great writers are castrated while still in the nursery.

  Murong Xuecun

  Nurse, May, Way

  5 Copy quote

• Genuine bravery for a writer... It is about calmly speaking the truth when everyone else is silenced, when the truth cannot be expressed. It is about speaking out with a different voice, risking the wrath of the state and offending everyone, for the sake of the truth, and the writer's conscience.

  Murong Xuecun

  Voice, Wrath, Offending

  6 Copy quote

• The only truth is that we cannot speak the truth . The only acceptable viewpoint is that we cannot express a viewpoint.

  Murong Xuecun

  Viewpoints, Speak, Truth Is

  4 Copy quote

• Now, after I have published a few books, I can clearly feel the impact of censorship when I write. For example, I'll think of a sentence, and then realize that it will for sure get deleted. Then I won't even write it down.

  Murong Xuecun

  Book, Writing, Thinking

  4 Copy quote

• Unfortunately, I have dedicated great effort to the task of compiling this ‘sensitive words glossary,’ and I have mastered my filtering skills. I knew which words and sentences had to be cut, and I accepted the cutting as if that was the way it should be. In fact, I will often take it on myself to save time and cut a few words. I call this ‘castrated writing’ - I am a proactive eunuch, I have already castrated myself before the surgeon raises his scalpel.

  Murong Xuecun

  Writing, Cutting, Skills

  "Words We Can Use, and Those We Can Not". www.nytimes.com. February 24, 2011.

  5 Copy quote

• Actually, I am a coward. I say only what is safe to say, and I criticise only what is permissable to criticise.

  Murong Xuecun

  Coward, Safe, Criticise

  6 Copy quote

• It is difficult to call myself a writer, even when I stand at a podium to receive a prize, I feel uncomfortable calling myself a writer—I am merely a word criminal.

  Murong Xuecun

  Criminals, Calling, Difficult

  4 Copy quote

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