--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For all the social changes in China can…" description: "\"For all the social changes in China can be traced to their early beginnings in the days when the new tools or vehicles of commerce and locomotion first..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/hu-shih-19790_business_for-all-the-social-changes-in-china-can_2460614.png" --- # For all the social changes in China can be traced to their… ![“For all the social changes in China can be traced to their early beginnings in the days when the new tools or vehicles of commerce and locomotion first brought the Chinese people into unavoidable contact with the strange ways and novel goods of the Western peoples.” quote by Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/hu-shih-19790_business_for-all-the-social-changes-in-china-can_2460614.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/hu-shih-19790_business_for-all-the-social-changes-in-china-can_2460614.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/hu-shih-19790_business_for-all-the-social-changes-in-china-can_2460614.png) > “For all the social changes in China can be traced to their early beginnings in the days when the new tools or vehicles of commerce and locomotion first brought the Chinese people into unavoidable contact with the strange ways and novel goods of the Western peoples.” [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early Western technology and trade forced China to confront new ideas, reshaping its society. **In simple terms:** Western contact changed China. Key Takeaway Recognize how external influences reshape cultures. Themes history globalization exchange Mood reflective analytical Type historical cultural When to use this quote - industrialization - trade negotiations - technological adoption - policy reform Key Concepts modernization cultural diffusion Questions to Reflect On - How did Western goods alter Chinese daily life? - What aspects of tradition persisted? A Different Perspective External forces can also cause resistance or loss of tradition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Commerce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commerce/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) ## Related quotes > [Xi Jinping is a very strong and ambitious leader who is looking to make a lot of changes in China. He is not looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/xi-jinping-is-a-very-strong-and-ambitious-leader-who-is-looking-to/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [And lastly, the political revolutions from 1911 to the present time have done more to bring about tremendous social changes everywhere than even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/and-lastly-the-political-revolutions-from-1911-to-the-present-time/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [Youth Ministry, as traditionally organized, has also suffered the impact of social changes. Young people often fail to find responses to their concerns, needs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/youth-ministry-as-traditionally-organized-has-also-suffered-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [We're the end of the baby boomers, and we participated in many social changes. Who would of thought, for example, when the AIDS epidemic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/we-re-the-end-of-the-baby-boomers-and-we-participated-in-many-social/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [Social changes always involve trade-offs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-coontz/social-changes-always-involve-trade-offs/) [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) > [A lot of people think that the music was responsible for a lot of changes in the Sixties, but I think the music came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/a-lot-of-people-think-that-the-music-was-responsible-for-a-lot-of-2/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [A lot of people think that the music was responsible for a lot of changes in the Sixties, but I think the music came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/a-lot-of-people-think-that-the-music-was-responsible-for-a-lot-of/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [“...agriculture and its attending social changes have likely increased selection for traits such as self-control, lower time discounting, and tolerance for routine over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-del-giudice/agriculture-and-its-attending-social-changes-have-likely-increased/) [Marco del Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-del-giudice/) > [I think there are going to be some social changes that take place due to the Internet, and the availability of the tools to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/i-think-there-are-going-to-be-some-social-changes-that-take-place-due/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [As much as any woman of the twentieth century, Madam Walker paved the way for the profound social changes that altered women's place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lelia-bundles/as-much-as-any-woman-of-the-twentieth-century-madam-walker-paved-the/) [A'Lelia Bundles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lelia-bundles/) > [Anyone who knows anything of history knows that great social changes are impossible without feminine upheaval. Social progress can be measured exactly by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/anyone-who-knows-anything-of-history-knows-that-great-social-changes/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [ “...\[G\]reat progress was evident in the last Congress of the American 'Labour Union' in that among other things, it treated working women with complete… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/g-reat-progress-was-evident-in-the-last-congress-of-the-american/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Law cannot stand aside from the social changes around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/law-cannot-stand-aside-from-the-social-changes-around-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Perhaps, when we examine the causes of many social changes and political upheavals, we will find the marks of its presence and its principal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/perhaps-when-we-examine-the-causes-of-many-social-changes-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Alfred Nobel believed that social changes are brought about slowly, and sometimes by indirect means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertha-von-suttner/alfred-nobel-believed-that-social-changes-are-brought-about-slowly/) [Bertha von Suttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertha-von-suttner/) ## More by Hu Shih > [On July 26, 1916, I announced to all my friends in America that from now on I resolved to write no more poems in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/on-july-26-1916-i-announced-to-all-my-friends-in-america-that-from/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [It is only through contact and comparison that the relative value or worthlessness of the various cultural elements can be clearly and critically seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/it-is-only-through-contact-and-comparison-that-the-relative-value-or/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [Life and human society are the chief concern of Confucianism and, through it, the chief concern of the Chinese people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/life-and-human-society-are-the-chief-concern-of-confucianism-and/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [Only when we realize that there is no eternal, unchanging truth or absolute truth can we arouse in ourselves a sense of intellectual responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/only-when-we-realize-that-there-is-no-eternal-unchanging-truth-or/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [In the year 1915 a series of trivial incidents led some Chinese students in Cornell University to take up the question of reforming the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/in-the-year-1915-a-series-of-trivial-incidents-led-some-chinese/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [The knowledge that mankind needs is not the way or principle which has an absolute existence, but the particular truths for here and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/the-knowledge-that-mankind-needs-is-not-the-way-or-principle-which/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [The most outstanding characteristic of Eastern civilization is to know contentment, whereas that of Western civilization is not to know contentment. Contented Easterners are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/the-most-outstanding-characteristic-of-eastern-civilization-is-to/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [After learning the language and culture of the Chinese people, these Jesuits began to establish contacts with the young intellectuals of the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/after-learning-the-language-and-culture-of-the-chinese-people-these/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [And revolutions always mean the breakdown of old authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/and-revolutions-always-mean-the-breakdown-of-old-authority/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [Practically all the prominent leaders of thought in China today are openly agnostics and even atheists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/practically-all-the-prominent-leaders-of-thought-in-china-today-are/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [But I wish to point out that it is entirely wrong to say that the Chinese are not religious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/but-i-wish-to-point-out-that-it-is-entirely-wrong-to-say-that-the/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [In such diffused changes of culture two factors are necessary: contact and understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/in-such-diffused-changes-of-culture-two-factors-are-necessary-contact/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [Historically, there had been many periods of Chinese Renaissance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/historically-there-had-been-many-periods-of-chinese-renaissance/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [“1. Speak only when you have something to say. 2. Speak what you want to say and say it in the way you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/1-speak-only-when-you-have-something-to-say-2-speak-what-you-want-to/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [The Jesuits had learned that a Christian mission to China could never succeed if it were not in a position to show and convince…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/the-jesuits-had-learned-that-a-christian-mission-to-china-could-never/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) [Explore all 32 Hu Shih quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For all the social changes in China can be traced to their early beginnings in the days when the new tools or vehicles of commerce and locomotion first brought the Chinese people into unavoidable contact with the strange ways and novel goods of the Western peoples.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hu Shih" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/for-all-the-social-changes-in-china-can-be-traced-to-their-early/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/for-all-the-social-changes-in-china-can-be-traced-to-their-early/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/hu-shih-19790_business_for-all-the-social-changes-in-china-can_2460614.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/hu-shih-19790_business_for-all-the-social-changes-in-china-can_2460614.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/hu-shih-19790_business_for-all-the-social-changes-in-china-can_2460614.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For all the social changes in China can be traced to their early beginnings in the days when the new tools…” — Hu Shih", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hu Shih", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For all the social changes in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/for-all-the-social-changes-in-china-can-be-traced-to-their-early/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/for-all-the-social-changes-in-china-can-be-traced-to-their-early/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```