--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some cultures tried to stop people from…" description: "\"Some cultures tried to stop people from expressing themselves. In Mao's China, for example, the Communists tried to stop individual expression. For the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/frank-gehry-2139_china_some-cultures-tried-to-stop-people-from_2091888.png" --- # Some cultures tried to stop people from expressing… ![“Some cultures tried to stop people from expressing themselves. In Mao's China, for example, the Communists tried to stop individual expression. For them the payoff was a society of equality. The problem of course is that it didn't work.” quote by Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/frank-gehry-2139_china_some-cultures-tried-to-stop-people-from_2091888.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/frank-gehry-2139_china_some-cultures-tried-to-stop-people-from_2091888.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/frank-gehry-2139_china_some-cultures-tried-to-stop-people-from_2091888.png) > “Some cultures tried to stop people from expressing themselves. In Mao's China, for example, the Communists tried to stop individual expression. For them the payoff was a society of equality. The problem of course is that it didn't work.” [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques attempts to suppress individual expression for equality, noting that forced uniformity often fails and can stifle creativity and progress. **In simple terms:** Forced equality can hinder creativity. Key Takeaway Balance individuality with community. Themes politics culture creativity Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - education reform - artistic expression - policy making Key Concepts authoritarianism collectivism individual rights Questions to Reflect On - When does uniformity become harmful? - How can societies encourage both equality and expression? A Different Perspective May ignore benefits of some egalitarian policies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-expression/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [“So it’s not a problem of getting people to express themselves but of providing little gaps of solitude and silence in which they might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilles-deleuze/so-it-s-not-a-problem-of-getting-people-to-express-themselves-but-of/) [Gilles Deleuze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilles-deleuze/) > [Education is the key to opportunity in our society, and the equality of educational opportunity must be the birthright of every citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/education-is-the-key-to-opportunity-in-our-society-and-the-equality/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [We must begin by acknowledging that there is a complete absence of two things in Indian Society. One of these is equality. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/we-must-begin-by-acknowledging-that-there-is-a-complete-absence-of/) [B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) > [In a society in which equality is a fact, not merely a word, words of racial or sexual assault and humiliation will be nonsense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-a-society-in-which-equality-is-a-fact-not-merely-a-word-words-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I saw that this desire to control society in the name of equality expresses exactly the contempt for human freedom that I encountered in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/i-saw-that-this-desire-to-control-society-in-the-name-of-equality/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [Facilitative attitudes (and skills) can help a therapist gain entry into the group Freedom from a desire to control the outcome, and respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/facilitative-attitudes-and-skills-can-help-a-therapist-gain-entry/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [There's something artistic about skating. A psychologist could tell you exactly why that is, but I think there's something much more expressive that gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/there-s-something-artistic-about-skating-a-psychologist-could-tell/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [What is of value is that a particular photographer sees the subject differently than I do. A good picture must be a completely individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexey-brodovitch/what-is-of-value-is-that-a-particular-photographer-sees-the-subject/) [Alexey Brodovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexey-brodovitch/) > [The personality and style of a photographer usually limits the type of subject with which he deals best. For example Cartier-Bresson is very interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexey-brodovitch/the-personality-and-style-of-a-photographer-usually-limits-the-type/) [Alexey Brodovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexey-brodovitch/) > [Participatory culture shifts the focus of literacy from one of individual expression to community involvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/participatory-culture-shifts-the-focus-of-literacy-from-one-of/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [“He desires to find visible, individual expression in your person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-du-toit/he-desires-to-find-visible-individual-expression-in-your-person/) [François Du Toit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-du-toit/) > [Singing your own songs is all about individual expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/singing-your-own-songs-is-all-about-individual-expression/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [At the heart of the First Amendment is the recognition of the fundamental importance of the free flow of ideas and opinions on matters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-rehnquist/at-the-heart-of-the-first-amendment-is-the-recognition-of-the/) [William Rehnquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-rehnquist/) > [Free music is in a constant state of surprise and, consequently, presents no surprise at all. So, I'm not really a fan of Free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-la-roca/free-music-is-in-a-constant-state-of-surprise-and-consequently/) Pete La Roca > [From 1970 onwards, our culture told both sexes that individual expression was paramount. And for women, that was defined as the right to choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/from-1970-onwards-our-culture-told-both-sexes-that-individual/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) ## More by Frank Gehry > [I think my attitudes about the past are very traditional. You can't ignore history; you can't escape it even if you want to. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-think-my-attitudes-about-the-past-are-very-traditional-you-can-t/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [In Tokyo, London or Los Angeles people go into McDonald's and the restaurants are identical and people are comfortable. It's unthreatening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/in-tokyo-london-or-los-angeles-people-go-into-mcdonald-s-and-the/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [I'm inspired by a lot of stuff. I always was interested in sculpture and painting and music and literature and all those things. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-m-inspired-by-a-lot-of-stuff-i-always-was-interested-in-sculpture/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [One of my greatest influences is the Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/one-of-my-greatest-influences-is-the-italian-artist-gian-lorenzo/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [People live and work in uninspiring environments, but look inside those rooms. Look at the painted walls and the decorations. 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Sometimes these green claims are completely meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/green-issues-have-been-used-as-a-marketing-tool-sometimes-these-green/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [There are a lot of questions about whether architecture is art. The people who ask that think pretty tract houses are architecture. But that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/there-are-a-lot-of-questions-about-whether-architecture-is-art-the/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [I used to read more when I was a kid than I do now. It was all sort of fuel for the fire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-used-to-read-more-when-i-was-a-kid-than-i-do-now-it-was-all-sort-of/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [I found myself starting architecture with a deep social, Jewish, liberal conscience, and the belief that architecture is for the people. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-found-myself-starting-architecture-with-a-deep-social-jewish/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [The message I hope to have sent is just the example of being yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/the-message-i-hope-to-have-sent-is-just-the-example-of-being-yourself/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [The whole can be greater than the sum of it's parts, that we all have something to put in the pie to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/the-whole-can-be-greater-than-the-sum-of-it-s-parts-that-we-all-have/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [I used to sketch - that's the way I thought out loud. Then they made a book of my sketches, and I got self-conscious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-used-to-sketch-that-s-the-way-i-thought-out-loud-then-they-made-a/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [Bilbao opened in 1997. It was only ten years later that I was asked to do another museum. A lot of other people got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/bilbao-opened-in-1997-it-was-only-ten-years-later-that-i-was-asked-to/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) [Explore all 183 Frank Gehry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) ## 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. 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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": "Some cultures tried to stop people from expressing themselves. In Mao's China, for example, the Communists tried to stop individual expression. For them the payoff was a society of equality. 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