--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once I was in New York, I completely had…" description: "\"Once I was in New York, I completely had no interest for a long time in what happened in China because I had been through so much. Seeing my father's l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/ai-weiwei-824_china_once-i-was-in-new-york-i-completely-had_2755025.png" --- # Once I was in New York, I completely had no interest for a… ![“Once I was in New York, I completely had no interest for a long time in what happened in China because I had been through so much. Seeing my father's life struggle and so many whole generations lose their potential or possibility in their lives. Just being pushed into this political struggle and…” quote by Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/ai-weiwei-824_china_once-i-was-in-new-york-i-completely-had_2755025.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/ai-weiwei-824_china_once-i-was-in-new-york-i-completely-had_2755025.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/ai-weiwei-824_china_once-i-was-in-new-york-i-completely-had_2755025.png) > “Once I was in New York, I completely had no interest for a long time in what happened in China because I had been through so much. Seeing my father's life struggle and so many whole generations lose their potential or possibility in their lives. Just being pushed into this political struggle and the damage done not only to their lives but their relatives.” [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. Personal hardship and political oppression shape artistic expression and empathy for future generations. **In simple terms:** Hardship fuels art and empathy. Key Takeaway Use struggle to inspire meaningful work. Themes politics art generational trauma empathy Mood somber determined Type activist reflective When to use this quote - activism - creative projects - education - family dialogue Key Concepts social critique personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How does your history influence your art? - What can you do to amplify unheard voices? A Different Perspective Art may not reach all audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Generations Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations-lose-3128034/) [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [Happened China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened-china-1991457/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Just being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-being/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-struggle/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Loses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loses/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-struggle/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-generations-2965587/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [The Internet is the best thing that ever happened to China. It turns us into individuals and also enables us to share our perceptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/the-internet-is-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-china-it-turns/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [I am not doing any favour, only performing a duty; this victory is a result of struggle of five generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/i-am-not-doing-any-favour-only-performing-a-duty-this-victory-is-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [I never cared about whatever tragic event happened in China. It's faraway decoration, even if in blood and plague.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/i-never-cared-about-whatever-tragic-event-happened-in-china-it-s/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“some activists and theorists treat aesthetic objects and creative works as displaying a political potentiality missing from classes, parties, and unions. This aesthetic focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-activists-and-theorists-treat-aesthetic-objects-and-creative/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The self is configured in ways that both reflect and influence the very foundations of social life and everyday living. Without the guidance set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-cushman/the-self-is-configured-in-ways-that-both-reflect-and-influence-the/) [Philip Cushman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-cushman/) > [“The necessity of political struggle especially means confronting and contradicting those on the left who say that resistance is futile. Such people have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lierre-keith/the-necessity-of-political-struggle-especially-means-confronting-and/) [Lierre Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lierre-keith/) > [“the long and bitter political struggle in which he had engaged against slavery had not prepared Mr. Douglass to take up the equally difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-long-and-bitter-political-struggle-in-which-he-had-engaged/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“Another effect of this deplorable perversion of the law is, that it gives to human passions and to political struggles, and, in general, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/another-effect-of-this-deplorable-perversion-of-the-law-is-that-it/) [Frédéric Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [It makes me nuts, the idea that if you put a political struggle at the heart of your book, then it has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/it-makes-me-nuts-the-idea-that-if-you-put-a-political-struggle-at-the/) [Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/) > [Non-violent resistance implies the very opposite of weakness. Defiance combined with non-retaliatory acceptance of repression from one's opponents is active, not passive. It requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/non-violent-resistance-implies-the-very-opposite-of-weakness-defiance/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [None of Ho Chi Minh's colleagues was as dedicated to the use of political struggle, psychological warfare, and diplomatic means as he was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-duiker/none-of-ho-chi-minh-s-colleagues-was-as-dedicated-to-the-use-of/) [William J. Duiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-duiker/) > [Although knaves win in every political struggle, although society seems to be delivered over from the hands of one set of criminals into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/although-knaves-win-in-every-political-struggle-although-society/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The pigs are the capitalist state, and as such define the limits of all political struggles; to the extent that a revolutionary struggle shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weather-underground/the-pigs-are-the-capitalist-state-and-as-such-define-the-limits-of/) [Weather Underground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weather-underground/) > [There were various aspects of Sun Tzu's approach that appealed to Ho Chi Minh: a) to learn to understand both the enemy and yourself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-duiker/there-were-various-aspects-of-sun-tzu-s-approach-that-appealed-to-ho/) [William J. Duiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-duiker/) > [Political struggle is the most important thing any of us can do as a citizen in a democracy; and that means the old joining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/political-struggle-is-the-most-important-thing-any-of-us-can-do-as-a/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) ## 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 China quotes > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [There is no precedent of an advanced economy withdrawing from a trade agreement as deep and as complex as the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/there-is-no-precedent-of-an-advanced-economy-withdrawing-from-a-trade/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [In China, people are moving from bigger cars to small hatches, and interestingly, the Indian market is graduating to bigger cars and sedans. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfried-vahland/in-china-people-are-moving-from-bigger-cars-to-small-hatches-and/) [Winfried Vahland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfried-vahland/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [Language is so specific to art, all the way to the past in China. Previously, people were not allowed to include various regional dialects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jia-zhangke/language-is-so-specific-to-art-all-the-way-to-the-past-in-china/) [Jia Zhangke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jia-zhangke/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [India may be overtaking China as the world's most polluted country. Even now, which country is worse depends on the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/india-may-be-overtaking-china-as-the-world-s-most-polluted-country/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-nafta-can-work-better-but-it-s-a/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [The situation with Tibet has to change. China is one of the last huge dictatorships, holding on to these colonies, provinces. That has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/the-situation-with-tibet-has-to-change-china-is-one-of-the-last-huge/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder, at our expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/put-plainly-china-seems-determined-to-steal-its-way-up-the-economic/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [The remarkable thing about the Chinese is that they've operated differently than the Russians, the Iranians, and the North Koreans. By and large, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-sanger/the-remarkable-thing-about-the-chinese-is-that-they-ve-operated/) [David E. Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-sanger/) [Browse all 3,827 China quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once I was in New York, I completely had no interest for a long time in what happened in China because I had been through so much. Seeing my father's life struggle and so many whole generations lose their potential or possibility in their lives. 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