Civil society Quote by Ai Weiwei
![“The deadly weapon against totalitarian society is openness - doing everything very openly on the Internet, letting people know every detail, any little development. Once it is out there, everybody can make their own judgement. [Therefore] holding a trial outside the court. I think that is…” quote by Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3f0/ai-weiwei-824_civil-society_the-deadly-weapon-against-totalitarian-s_560420.jpg)
“The deadly weapon against totalitarian society is openness - doing everything very openly on the Internet, letting people know every detail, any little development. Once it is out there, everybody can make their own judgement. [Therefore] holding a trial outside the court. I think that is fairness, that is justice, that is a civil society. Otherwise call it an evil society because everything is hidden.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on transparency, 2014
Openness on the internet prevents authoritarian secrecy and promotes collective judgment and fairness.
In simple terms: Being open online stops hidden power and ensures justice.
Key Takeaway
Share information openly to protect civil society.
Themes
transparency
justice
civil society
authoritarianism
Mood
critical
hopeful
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- activism
- government oversight
- media reporting
- online platforms
Key Concepts
digital openness
public accountability
collective judgment
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance openness with privacy?
- What safeguards prevent information overload?
A Different Perspective
Openness alone may not stop misuse of information or protect privacy.
![“I curated this show [Shanghai Biennale ], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial.” quote by Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/886/ai-weiwei-824_controversial_i-curated-this-show-shanghai-biennale-i_66816.jpg)
![“The social [media channel] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection, and community. That's what there's too little of in today's mediascape, despite all the hoopla surrounding social tools. The promise…” quote by Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c85/umair-haque-25881_beauty_the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-bea_1270.jpg)
![“[T]here are, at bottom, basically two ways to order social affairs, Coercively, through the mechanisms of the state - what we can call political society. And voluntarily, through the private interaction of individuals and associations - what we can call civil society. ... In a civil society, you…” quote by Ed Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b8b/ed-crane-39299_affair_t-here-are-at-bottom-basically-two-ways_34431.jpg)
