--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We had made a - sort of a national…" description: "\"We had made a - sort of a national decision that we wanted to be this intellectual property country, where we would have things manufactured in China, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/esther-dyson-8125_china_we-had-made-a-sort-of-a-national-decisio_615032.jpg" --- # We had made a - sort of a national decision that we wanted… ![“We had made a - sort of a national decision that we wanted to be this intellectual property country, where we would have things manufactured in China, but we would do the design, we would do the creative stuff.And now what we have done is, we have forgotten that that's what we wanted, and we're…” quote by Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/esther-dyson-8125_china_we-had-made-a-sort-of-a-national-decisio_615032.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/esther-dyson-8125_china_we-had-made-a-sort-of-a-national-decisio_615032.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/esther-dyson-8125_china_we-had-made-a-sort-of-a-national-decisio_615032.jpg) > “We had made a - sort of a national decision that we wanted to be this intellectual property country, where we would have things manufactured in China, but we would do the design, we would do the creative stuff.And now what we have done is, we have forgotten that that's what we wanted, and we're making the intellectual stuff more and more free. And, so, we're sort of left with less and less.” [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that a nation may lose its strategic advantage if it outsources design and creativity while focusing only on low‑cost manufacturing, leading to erosion of intellectual property value. **In simple terms:** Losing creative edge harms economic power. Key Takeaway Protect and invest in domestic innovation. Themes innovation economics intellectual property globalization Mood concerned reflective Type policy economic strategic When to use this quote - government policy - corporate R&D - education systems - trade negotiations Key Concepts strategic autonomy value chain creative economy Questions to Reflect On - How can a country retain creative control while leveraging cheap manufacturing? - What policies safeguard domestic intellectual assets? A Different Perspective Balancing cost savings with long‑term innovation is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Intellectual property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual-property/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) ## Related quotes > [We live in a time of fake news - things that are made up and manufactured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-portnow/we-live-in-a-time-of-fake-news-things-that-are-made-up-and/) [Neil Portnow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-portnow/) > [Because of new technologies, new wealth, new conditions of domestic life and of international relations, unprecedented criteria and issues are coming up for national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-kahn/because-of-new-technologies-new-wealth-new-conditions-of-domestic/) [Herman Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-kahn/) > [Owning the intellectual property is like owning land: You need to keep investing in it again and again to get a payoff; you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/owning-the-intellectual-property-is-like-owning-land-you-need-to-keep/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [From the business point of view—not to overstate it—intellectual property is dead; long live intellectual process. Long live service; long live performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/from-the-business-point-of-view-not-to-overstate-it-intellectual/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [“Piracy begins where creativity ends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-kalyan-c-kankanala/piracy-begins-where-creativity-ends/) [Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-kalyan-c-kankanala/) > [I speak for every American when I say we are done tucking our tails and being at the losing end of every trade-off we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santos/i-speak-for-every-american-when-i-say-we-are-done-tucking-our-tails/) [George Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santos/) > [I don't pretend to be an expert on intellectual property law, but I do know one thing. If a music industry executive claims I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-ian/i-don-t-pretend-to-be-an-expert-on-intellectual-property-law-but-i-do/) [Janis Ian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-ian/) > [“Place your stake in the ground, Intellectual Property is the lifestyle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/place-your-stake-in-the-ground-intellectual-property-is-the-lifestyle/) Anyaele Sam Chiyson > [Throughout history, musicians have never counted on intellectual property really getting them rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/throughout-history-musicians-have-never-counted-on-intellectual/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [You cannot steal somebody's intellectual property. Law and justice protect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/you-cannot-steal-somebody-s-intellectual-property-law-and-justice/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [There is no such thing as intellectual property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/there-is-no-such-thing-as-intellectual-property/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [“structure of the social division of labor. Many firms and industries must make fundamental changes to long-held business models in order to adapt. Further,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-von-hippel/structure-of-the-social-division-of-labor-many-firms-and-industries/) [Eric von Hippel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-von-hippel/) > [I am not in favour of the takeover of excellent and strategically important British companies by struggling foreign firms whose actions are fuelled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sainsbury-baron-sainsbury-of-turville/i-am-not-in-favour-of-the-takeover-of-excellent-and-strategically/) [David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sainsbury-baron-sainsbury-of-turville/) > [If you talk privately to our tech companies, our pharmaceutical companies, our high-end manufacturing companies, the high end of America, where the good-paying jobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/if-you-talk-privately-to-our-tech-companies-our-pharmaceutical/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [Corporately contrived art product replaces inspired intellectual property with ineffectual poperty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-bonta/corporately-contrived-art-product-replaces-inspired-intellectual/) [Vanna Bonta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-bonta/) ## More by Esther Dyson > [Since I became chairman, I've tried to turn EFF into civil liberties and responsibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/since-i-became-chairman-i-ve-tried-to-turn-eff-into-civil-liberties/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Owning the intellectual property is like owning land: You need to keep investing in it again and again to get a payoff; you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/owning-the-intellectual-property-is-like-owning-land-you-need-to-keep/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Don't leave hold of your common sense. Think about what you're doing and how the technology can enhance it. Don't think about technology first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/don-t-leave-hold-of-your-common-sense-think-about-what-you-re-doing/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [People need to understand that the technology is for them. It's not to them. It's not over them. People still sometimes want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/people-need-to-understand-that-the-technology-is-for-them-it-s-not-to/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [The challenge of ensuring adequate, nutrient-rich food for an expanding global population is a daunting one, especially given constraints on key resources like water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/the-challenge-of-ensuring-adequate-nutrient-rich-food-for-an/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [What I'm thinking about more and more these days is simply the importance of transparency, and Jefferson's saying that he'd rather have a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/what-i-m-thinking-about-more-and-more-these-days-is-simply-the/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Anyone will tell you if you want to run a business, you need to monitor costs and revenues. 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So people spend huge amounts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/there-s-almost-no-way-of-doing-importing-honestly-because-if-you-do/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [The definition of the problem, rather than its solution, will be the scarce resource in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/the-definition-of-the-problem-rather-than-its-solution-will-be-the/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Few influential people involved with the Internet claim that it is a good in and of itself. It is a powerful tool for solving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/few-influential-people-involved-with-the-internet-claim-that-it-is-a/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [The great thing is, Internet allows you to create your own job, not just look for jobs other people are going to give you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/the-great-thing-is-internet-allows-you-to-create-your-own-job-not/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [“Listen more than you talk. Whatever the context, people will think you’re smarter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/listen-more-than-you-talk-whatever-the-context-people-will-think-you/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [I am not in favor of immortality. I believe death for humans is the way of getting rid of accumulated errors - as in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/i-am-not-in-favor-of-immortality-i-believe-death-for-humans-is-the/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Summer is conference season - a critical time for building brands, making connections, and shaping industries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/summer-is-conference-season-a-critical-time-for-building-brands/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) [Explore all 84 Esther Dyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) ## More China quotes > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. 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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. 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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": "We had made a - sort of a national decision that we wanted to be this intellectual property country, where we would have things manufactured in China, but we would do the design, we would do the creative stuff.And now what we have done is, we have forgotten that that's what we wanted, and we're making the intellectual stuff more and more free. 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