--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can never know what is and what is…" description: "\"You can never know what is and what is not powerful, but you can always find out what the powerful people are scared of. A state like China looks so po..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/ai-weiwei-824_china_you-can-never-know-what-is-and-what-is-n_814184.jpg" --- # You can never know what is and what is not powerful, but… ![“You can never know what is and what is not powerful, but you can always find out what the powerful people are scared of. A state like China looks so powerful, but they are so scared of the Internet, so the Internet is more powerful than them.” quote by Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/ai-weiwei-824_china_you-can-never-know-what-is-and-what-is-n_814184.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/ai-weiwei-824_china_you-can-never-know-what-is-and-what-is-n_814184.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/ai-weiwei-824_china_you-can-never-know-what-is-and-what-is-n_814184.jpg) > “You can never know what is and what is not powerful, but you can always find out what the powerful people are scared of. A state like China looks so powerful, but they are so scared of the Internet, so the Internet is more powerful than them.” [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. Powerful people fear forces they cannot control; the Internet outpaces state authority. **In simple terms:** The powerful fear uncontrolled forces like the Internet. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of authority. Themes power technology control society Mood critical thought‑provoking analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - Activism - policy making - online advocacy Key Concepts Political theory digital culture surveillance Questions to Reflect On - How does technology shift power dynamics? - What can individuals do to protect digital freedom? A Different Perspective The Internet can also be used by regimes to surveil. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Internet Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet-powerful-296666/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Powerful people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful-people/) [Powerful Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful-scared-296668/) [Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared/) [Scared Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared-internet-296667/) [Scared State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared-state-296669/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [If I could edit Google Images, then I wouldn't be as scared of the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-sevigny/if-i-could-edit-google-images-then-i-wouldn-t-be-as-scared-of-the/) [Chloe Sevigny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-sevigny/) > [I have not looked at any of the 'Pretender' Web sites. I'm scared of the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-parker/i-have-not-looked-at-any-of-the-pretender-web-sites-i-m-scared-of-the/) [Andrea Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-parker/) > [I'm scared of the Internet. That's not real, but it is. I'm worried about what it's doing to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-m-scared-of-the-internet-that-s-not-real-but-it-is-i-m-worried/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [I get really scared about how the Internet is shifting and changing everyone's minds, and the way we see ourselves and interact online. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feist/i-get-really-scared-about-how-the-internet-is-shifting-and-changing/) [Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feist/) > [You have 1 billion people using the Internet with 200 million of those now using broadband internet connections, so the Internet has become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklas-zennstrom/you-have-1-billion-people-using-the-internet-with-200-million-of/) [Niklas Zennstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niklas-zennstrom/) > [There's so much information accessible to everyone now because the Internet is so powerful; social media is so powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hardy/there-s-so-much-information-accessible-to-everyone-now-because-the/) [Matt Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hardy/) > [The Internet is a very powerful tool; unfortunately it's starting to get a little saturated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus-london/the-internet-is-a-very-powerful-tool-unfortunately-it-s-starting-to/) [Theophilus London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus-london/) > [“Controlling the internet is a powerful tool for increasingly confident autocracies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spitz/controlling-the-internet-is-a-powerful-tool-for-increasingly/) [Roger Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spitz/) > [The internet is the most powerful tool we have for creating a more open and connected world. We can't let poorly thought out laws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/the-internet-is-the-most-powerful-tool-we-have-for-creating-a-more/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [The internet is the most powerful mechanism we can imagine to match perfectly individuals who needs something, and people with something to offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-goodwin/the-internet-is-the-most-powerful-mechanism-we-can-imagine-to-match/) [John Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-goodwin/) > [The Internet is a very powerful tool, but right now it's being handled by a lot of fools. And I think us together, Marilyn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/the-internet-is-a-very-powerful-tool-but-right-now-it-s-being-handled/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [The Internet is a powerful way to make lots of money... But we are not going to buy Yahoo!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumner-redstone/the-internet-is-a-powerful-way-to-make-lots-of-money-but-we-are-not/) [Sumner Redstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumner-redstone/) > [The Internet is a very powerful tool; unfortunately its starting to get a little saturated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus-london/the-internet-is-a-very-powerful-tool-unfortunately-its-starting-to/) [Theophilus London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus-london/) > [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/) > [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/) ## 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": "You can never know what is and what is not powerful, but you can always find out what the powerful people are scared of. 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