--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: During the days in detention, I thought…" description: "\"During the days in detention, I thought most about the moon.\" — Ai Weiwei" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/ai-weiwei-824_detention_during-the-days-in-detention-i-thought-m_1197654.png" --- # During the days in detention, I thought most about the moon. ![“During the days in detention, I thought most about the moon.” quote by Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/ai-weiwei-824_detention_during-the-days-in-detention-i-thought-m_1197654.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/ai-weiwei-824_detention_during-the-days-in-detention-i-thought-m_1197654.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/ai-weiwei-824_detention_during-the-days-in-detention-i-thought-m_1197654.png) > “During the days in detention, I thought most about the moon.” [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even in confinement, the mind can wander to vast, inspiring ideas like the moon. **In simple terms:** Imprisonment sparks imagination. Key Takeaway Find inspiration despite constraints. Themes imagination freedom creativity resilience Mood reflective hopeful Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - creative writing - design - activism - personal reflection Key Concepts philosophy psychology artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay creative under pressure? - What does the moon symbolize for you? A Different Perspective Physical limits may still hinder action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Days Detention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/days-detention-3578077/) [Detention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detention/) [Detention Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detention-thought-3578076/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thought Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-moon-608314/) ## Related quotes > [If a star fell each time I thought about you then the moon would truly realize how loneliness is really like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-a-star-fell-each-time-i-thought-about-you-then-the-moon-would/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [My mother became much older when I came out (ed's note: of detention). She had problems with her hearing and high blood pressure. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/my-mother-became-much-older-when-i-came-out-ed-s-note-of-detention/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [When I Was A Little Kid I Thought The Moon Followed Our Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila/when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-thought-the-moon-followed-our-car/) [Sheila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila/) > [“When i was a child , i thought , the moon was a banana, the full moon was a big cake. when i was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushil/when-i-was-a-child-i-thought-the-moon-was-a-banana-the-full-moon-was/) [Sushil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushil/) > [“He said the difference between the male and female modes of thought were easily illustrated by the thoughts of a boy and girl, sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/he-said-the-difference-between-the-male-and-female-modes-of-thought/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [“They must have thought I'm moon. Therefore they made known to me their hopes and expectations that is beyond flesh and blood. I'm only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darmie-orem/they-must-have-thought-i-m-moon-therefore-they-made-known-to-me-their/) [Darmie Orem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darmie-orem/) > [If a star fell each time I thought about you, the moon would truly realize what loneliness really feels like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/if-a-star-fell-each-time-i-thought-about-you-the-moon-would-truly/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Nature becomes really and truly intimate in strange and lonely places. I have been actually worrying myself for days at the thought that after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/nature-becomes-really-and-truly-intimate-in-strange-and-lonely-places/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [If a star fell each time I thought about you, then the moon would truly realize what loneliness was tryly like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-a-star-fell-each-time-i-thought-about-you-then-the-moon-would-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was a kid I thought the moon followed our car everywhere...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbygail-matlock/when-i-was-a-kid-i-thought-the-moon-followed-our-car-everywhere/) [Abbygail Matlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbygail-matlock/) > [“Shadow thought about how you made the moon seem to come out of the sky and become a silver dollar, and what made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-thought-about-how-you-made-the-moon-seem-to-come-out-of-the/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“And each night in bed I thought of her as the moon came through my window. I could have lowered my shade to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/and-each-night-in-bed-i-thought-of-her-as-the-moon-came-through-my/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [When I was a child, I always thought that the moon followed me ever where I go LoL!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-d-r-l-testament/when-i-was-a-child-i-always-thought-that-the-moon-followed-me-ever/) [Junior Dè Rèál Testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junior-d-r-l-testament/) > [“I grew up expecting to see the first man land on the moon. It never occurred to me that I’d see the last one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-grew-up-expecting-to-see-the-first-man-land-on-the-moon-it-never/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More by Ai Weiwei > [I'm totally independent. I don't bear any responsibility to any system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-m-totally-independent-i-don-t-bear-any-responsibility-to-any-system/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [If my art has nothing to do with people's pain and sorrow, what is 'art' for?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/if-my-art-has-nothing-to-do-with-people-s-pain-and-sorrow-what-is-art/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [China has a rich history that has spanned millennia. It consists of the histories of many nations and regions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/china-has-a-rich-history-that-has-spanned-millennia-it-consists-of/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [This world should be much more open and should be much more free, so the young people would have the chance to exercise the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/this-world-should-be-much-more-open-and-should-be-much-more-free-so/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [By participating in the society we live in, we understand our conditions and the way we relate to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/by-participating-in-the-society-we-live-in-we-understand-our/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [I see the Beijing National Stadium as an architectural project. I accepted Herzog and De Meuron's invitation to collaborate on the design, and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-see-the-beijing-national-stadium-as-an-architectural-project-i/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [ I curated this show \[Shanghai Biennale \], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-curated-this-show-shanghai-biennale-i-was-by-no-means-trying-to/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [I think we cannot have a double standard. We cannot see our art as different from the reality. We cannot use two different sets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-think-we-cannot-have-a-double-standard-we-cannot-see-our-art-as/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [It doesn't matter where I am - China will stay in me. I don't know how far I can still walk on this road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/it-doesn-t-matter-where-i-am-china-will-stay-in-me-i-don-t-know-how/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Chinese citizens have never had the right to really express their opinions; in the constitution it says you can, but in the real world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/chinese-citizens-have-never-had-the-right-to-really-express-their/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Your own acts tell the world who you are and what kind of society you think it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/your-own-acts-tell-the-world-who-you-are-and-what-kind-of-society-you/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Our lives are bound by physical limits, familial ties, political conditions, and geographical restrictions. Individual freedom takes us beyond them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/our-lives-are-bound-by-physical-limits-familial-ties-political/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Now I've come to such a mixed culture: America, Europe, South America, Africa. And the politics are changing everywhere all the time and becoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/now-i-ve-come-to-such-a-mixed-culture-america-europe-south-america/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [I don't think it's worth discussing new directions in the context of Chinese art - there were no old directions, either. Chinese art has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-don-t-think-it-s-worth-discussing-new-directions-in-the-context-of/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) [Explore all 359 Ai Weiwei quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) ## More Detention quotes > [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. Arbitrary detention, torture and discrimination hurt the human dignity of anybody, whatever his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/contrary-to-what-certain-governments-say-human-rights-are-universal/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [I went to live with my grandparents when my parents threw me out. Then I went to prison at the age of 17, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bez/i-went-to-live-with-my-grandparents-when-my-parents-threw-me-out-then/) [Bez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bez/) > [“You're my friend, Dani. that's what we do. 'sides how can i love you forever if you're always stuck in detention alone?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-fristoe/you-re-my-friend-dani-that-s-what-we-do-sides-how-can-i-love-you/) [Angela Fristoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-fristoe/) > [Gang members aren't frightened into acceptable behavior by increased penalties, enhanced punishments, and the promise of new detention facilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/gang-members-aren-t-frightened-into-acceptable-behavior-by-increased/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [“Detention, Saturday night, my office,” said Snape. “I do not take cheek from anyone, Potter . . . not even ‘the Chosen One.’ ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/detention-saturday-night-my-office-said-snape-i-do-not-take-cheek/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [I used to trip over my legs and get detention for my too-short shorts because none fit. I still trip, but now I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-grace/i-used-to-trip-over-my-legs-and-get-detention-for-my-too-short-shorts/) [Maggie Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-grace/) > [Yesterday I, along with a bipartisan Congressional Delegation of lawmakers, inspected the detention facilities at Guantanamo used to house individuals detained in the War…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ryun/yesterday-i-along-with-a-bipartisan-congressional-delegation-of/) [Jim Ryun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ryun/) > [Detention without trial is history in Malaysia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najib-razak/detention-without-trial-is-history-in-malaysia/) [Najib Razak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najib-razak/) > [“Tell her I got detention for defending her honour," Alec shouted in the distance. "Did he really?" "Well, he got detention, but mostly for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/tell-her-i-got-detention-for-defending-her-honour-alec-shouted-in-the/) [Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/) > [ One of the saddest and most damaging legacies of the \[George W.\] Bush administration is the increased assertion of the "state secrets" privilege, which… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/one-of-the-saddest-and-most-damaging-legacies-of-the-george-w-bush/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Arresting and detaining these dangerous people can make sense, at least until a final decision is reached on their deportation. However, such detention must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/arresting-and-detaining-these-dangerous-people-can-make-sense-at/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [ The U.N. \[the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention\] has looked into this whole situation. They spent eighteen months in formal, adversarial litigation.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/the-u-n-the-united-nations-working-group-on-arbitrary-detention-has/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [We who advocate peace are becoming an irrelevance when we speak peace. The government speaks rubber bullets, live bullets, tear gas, police dogs, detention,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-who-advocate-peace-are-becoming-an-irrelevance-when-we-speak-peace/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [The atmosphere of fear and security manipulated by the government has converted American citizens into terrorist suspects who are all subject to arbitrary and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/the-atmosphere-of-fear-and-security-manipulated-by-the-government-has/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) [Browse all 131 Detention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "During the days in detention, I thought most about the moon.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ai Weiwei" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/during-the-days-in-detention-i-thought-most-about-the-moon/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Detention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/during-the-days-in-detention-i-thought-most-about-the-moon/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/ai-weiwei-824_detention_during-the-days-in-detention-i-thought-m_1197654.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/ai-weiwei-824_detention_during-the-days-in-detention-i-thought-m_1197654.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/ai-weiwei-824_detention_during-the-days-in-detention-i-thought-m_1197654.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“During the days in detention, I thought most about the moon.” — Ai Weiwei", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ai Weiwei", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "During the days in detention, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/during-the-days-in-detention-i-thought-most-about-the-moon/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/during-the-days-in-detention-i-thought-most-about-the-moon/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```