--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idea to use backpacks came from my…" description: "\"The idea to use backpacks came from my visit to Sichuan after the earthquake in May 2008. During the earthquake many schools collapsed. Thousands of yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/ai-weiwei-824_bags_the-idea-to-use-backpacks-came-from-my-v_3195970.png" --- # The idea to use backpacks came from my visit to Sichuan… ![“The idea to use backpacks came from my visit to Sichuan after the earthquake in May 2008. During the earthquake many schools collapsed. Thousands of young students lost their lives, and you could see bags and study material everywhere. Then you realize individual life, media, and the lives of the…” quote by Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/ai-weiwei-824_bags_the-idea-to-use-backpacks-came-from-my-v_3195970.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/ai-weiwei-824_bags_the-idea-to-use-backpacks-came-from-my-v_3195970.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/ai-weiwei-824_bags_the-idea-to-use-backpacks-came-from-my-v_3195970.png) > “The idea to use backpacks came from my visit to Sichuan after the earthquake in May 2008. During the earthquake many schools collapsed. Thousands of young students lost their lives, and you could see bags and study material everywhere. Then you realize individual life, media, and the lives of the students are serving very different purposes. The lives of the students disappeared within the state propaganda, and very soon everybody will forget everything.” [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. Witnessing disaster revealed how propaganda erases individual suffering, urging remembrance of lost lives. **In simple terms:** Disasters hide personal tragedies behind state narratives. Key Takeaway Remember and honor the forgotten. Themes memory politics humanitarian propaganda loss Mood somber reflective Type testimonial political When to use this quote - humanitarian aid - education reform - memorial projects - media reporting Key Concepts social responsibility collective memory ethical journalism Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure individual stories survive collective narratives? - What role does art play in preserving memory? A Different Perspective Propaganda can also motivate denial of accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Backpacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backpacks-969742/) [Backpacks Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backpacks-came-5913651/) [Bags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bags/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Earthquake Schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earthquake-schools-5913652/) [Earthquakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earthquakes/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Forget everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget-everything/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-life/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Propaganda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propaganda/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Schools Collapsed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schools-collapsed-5913653/) [Serving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serving/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Backpacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-backpacks-5913650/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-students/) ## Related quotes > [When you have strict censorship of the internet, young students cannot receive a full education. Their view of the world is imbalanced. There can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/when-you-have-strict-censorship-of-the-internet-young-students-cannot/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [I blame rolling backpacks for childhood obesity. Pick that ish up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-blame-rolling-backpacks-for-childhood-obesity-pick-that-ish-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I still remember back in the day¦ when it was cool to have Rolling Backpacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-still-remember-back-in-the-day-when-it-was-cool-to-have-rolling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How absurd that our students tuck their cell phones, BlackBerrys, iPads, and iPods into their backpacks when they enter a classroom and pull out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/how-absurd-that-our-students-tuck-their-cell-phones-blackberrys-ipads/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [We didn't leave home until we graduated high school, but when we did, we genuinely left. We went out into the world with 50…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benji-madden/we-didn-t-leave-home-until-we-graduated-high-school-but-when-we-did/) [Benji Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benji-madden/) > [“I wish I had a book with me, since clearly I have a lot of time on my hands. I always carry around one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/i-wish-i-had-a-book-with-me-since-clearly-i-have-a-lot-of-time-on-my/) [Wendy Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/) > [I'm a collector of designer backpacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/i-m-a-collector-of-designer-backpacks/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [Kids didn't have huge backpacks when I was their age. We didn't have backpacks at all. Now it seemed all the kids had them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/kids-didn-t-have-huge-backpacks-when-i-was-their-age-we-didn-t-have/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“Atlanta summer, their backpacks still light on their shoulders. I envy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/atlanta-summer-their-backpacks-still-light-on-their-shoulders-i-envy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When my father was posted to Malaysia, we'd take bacon-and-egg sandwiches in our backpacks and go hiking in the jungle or make bamboo rafts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-stewart/when-my-father-was-posted-to-malaysia-we-d-take-bacon-and-egg/) [Rory Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-stewart/) > [I was showing up at the studio all the time with no bag, being like, 'I don't want to have a backpack. I've had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d/i-was-showing-up-at-the-studio-all-the-time-with-no-bag-being-like-i/) [Mike D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d/) > [Somehow, talking to young students brings you back to reality - it should, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-shiller/somehow-talking-to-young-students-brings-you-back-to-reality-it/) [Robert J. Shiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-shiller/) > [Princeton has made an enormous difference in my life, and I am delighted to be able to express my gratitude in such a tangible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-wu/princeton-has-made-an-enormous-difference-in-my-life-and-i-am/) [Gordon Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-wu/) > [It's always gratifying to hear from a passionate reader, and as a longtime educator, I'm especially pleased and heartened when that reader is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/it-s-always-gratifying-to-hear-from-a-passionate-reader-and-as-a/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [I did physics because of my love of nature. As a young student of science, I was taught that physics was the way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vandana-shiva/i-did-physics-because-of-my-love-of-nature-as-a-young-student-of/) [Vandana Shiva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vandana-shiva/) ## 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 Bags quotes > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I love Christopher Bailey and Burberry, Mulberry for bags, and Hudson for jeans. I like a little bit of designer with a bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-love-christopher-bailey-and-burberry-mulberry-for-bags-and-hudson/) [Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/) > ['Constitutional' is just a real pip of a word. Positively rolls off the tongue. In fact, it's downright fun to say. 'Con-stit-too-shun-al.' It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/constitutional-is-just-a-real-pip-of-a-word-positively-rolls-off-the/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I don't really buy expensive clothes. I love good bags!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-siriano/i-don-t-really-buy-expensive-clothes-i-love-good-bags/) [Christian Siriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-siriano/) > [I have a dress fitting to get to at three.' (Simon) 'Cool,' said Kyle, slinging his messenger bag over his shoulder and heading for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-have-a-dress-fitting-to-get-to-at-three-simon-cool-said-kyle/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Never bet with anyone you meet on the first tee who has a deep suntan, a 1-iron in his bag, and squinty eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-marr/never-bet-with-anyone-you-meet-on-the-first-tee-who-has-a-deep-suntan/) [Dave Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-marr/) > [If you go out on the Appalachian Trail, you have to bring so much more equipment - a tent, sleeping bag - but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/if-you-go-out-on-the-appalachian-trail-you-have-to-bring-so-much-more/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [Politics is not bean bags. It's serious, tough stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/politics-is-not-bean-bags-it-s-serious-tough-stuff/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I like bags that are easy to wear and are pretty to look at. But I don't like them when they have no space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dellal/i-like-bags-that-are-easy-to-wear-and-are-pretty-to-look-at-but-i-don/) [Alice Dellal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-dellal/) > [I drive a Prius. I always turn my faucets off. I never use plastic bottles anymore. I use glass bottles. I bring my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-d-orsay/i-drive-a-prius-i-always-turn-my-faucets-off-i-never-use-plastic/) [Brooke D'Orsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-d-orsay/) > [Then there are some minor points that strike me as suggestive - for instance, the position of Mrs. Hubbard's sponge bag, the name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/then-there-are-some-minor-points-that-strike-me-as-suggestive-for/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [It was a mind-blowing experience, it really was-absolutely an awesome thing. . . . As I got to the top I released a bag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-a-mind-blowing-experience-it-really-was-absolutely-an-awesome/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know the best thing about aeroplanes? Apart from the peanuts in little silver bags, I mean. It's looking out of the windows at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-know-the-best-thing-about-aeroplanes-apart-from-the-peanuts-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I'm not the Hollywood type. I'm not going to pack up my bags and let me move to Hollywood and stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-henry/i-m-not-the-hollywood-type-i-m-not-going-to-pack-up-my-bags-and-let/) [Dwight Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-henry/) > [Everyone knows I drink a lot of Diet Coke, so...I drink chocolate milk after races as my recovery drink, and you won't ever find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/everyone-knows-i-drink-a-lot-of-diet-coke-so-i-drink-chocolate-milk/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) [Browse all 1,147 Bags quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bags/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The idea to use backpacks came from my visit to Sichuan after the earthquake in May 2008. During the earthquake many schools collapsed. Thousands of young students lost their lives, and you could see bags and study material everywhere. 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