--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that the Tibetans should have…" description: "\"I believe that the Tibetans should have the right to control their own destinies and decide for themselves whether they want to be part of China or not..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/ma-jian-14632_believe_i-believe-that-the-tibetans-should-have_2178068.png" --- # I believe that the Tibetans should have the right to… ![“I believe that the Tibetans should have the right to control their own destinies and decide for themselves whether they want to be part of China or not. But this view isn't shared by most Chinese, or even the leaders of most Western democracies. As long as the Communist Party is in power, there is…” quote by Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/ma-jian-14632_believe_i-believe-that-the-tibetans-should-have_2178068.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/ma-jian-14632_believe_i-believe-that-the-tibetans-should-have_2178068.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/ma-jian-14632_believe_i-believe-that-the-tibetans-should-have_2178068.png) > “I believe that the Tibetans should have the right to control their own destinies and decide for themselves whether they want to be part of China or not. But this view isn't shared by most Chinese, or even the leaders of most Western democracies. As long as the Communist Party is in power, there is little hope for Tibet.” [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) ## 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 highlights the tension between self-determination and political realities, noting limited prospects under authoritarian rule. **In simple terms:** Self-rule vs. authoritarian control. Key Takeaway Support autonomy for lasting peace. Themes politics human rights self-determination Mood concerned determined Type political activist When to use this quote - policy advocacy - humanitarian work - education campaigns Key Concepts sovereignty geopolitics Questions to Reflect On - What steps can individuals take to support oppressed peoples? - How does international opinion affect such conflicts? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched power structures is extremely difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Communist party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist-party/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Democracies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracies/) [Destinies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destinies/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lama/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Tibet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tibet/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) ## Related quotes > [I totally disagree with the view that the Tibet struggle will die, and there will be no hope for Tibet, after the Dalai Lama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-totally-disagree-with-the-view-that-the-tibet-struggle-will-die-and/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“Decades of destruction, suppression, genocide, sterilization, and political indoctrination could not break the Tibetans’ will for freedom, or their deep-rooted religious beliefs. On”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/decades-of-destruction-suppression-genocide-sterilization-and/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [Tibetans look at a person who holds himself above others, believing he is better than others and knows more, and they say that person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-alan-wallace/tibetans-look-at-a-person-who-holds-himself-above-others-believing-he/) [B. Alan Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-alan-wallace/) > [Tibetans must take full authority and responsibility for developing industry, looking from all different perspectives, taking care of the environment, conserving resources for long-term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/tibetans-must-take-full-authority-and-responsibility-for-developing/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [For Tibetans, the real strength of our struggle is truth - not size, money, or expertise. China is much bigger, richer, more powerful militarily,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/for-tibetans-the-real-strength-of-our-struggle-is-truth-not-size-2/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Among the Tibetans, one wife has many husbands, because men are too poor to support a whole wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/among-the-tibetans-one-wife-has-many-husbands-because-men-are-too/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Tibetans are great with meritorious practices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/tibetans-are-great-with-meritorious-practices/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [The Tibetans have many teachings on how to die, consciously, and how to remain in the clear light, and it works. You can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-tibetans-have-many-teachings-on-how-to-die-consciously-and-how-to/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [For Tibetans, the real strength of our struggle is truth - not size, money, or expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/for-tibetans-the-real-strength-of-our-struggle-is-truth-not-size/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [In my travels, I have found two peoples, the Tibetans and the Fijians, who don't seem to have this problem. Their closeness with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-my-travels-i-have-found-two-peoples-the-tibetans-and-the-fijians/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Many Tibetans sacrifice their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/many-tibetans-sacrifice-their-lives/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“Tibetans are not famed for their perseverance. Full of enthusiasm at the start, and ready for anything new, their interest flags before long. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/tibetans-are-not-famed-for-their-perseverance-full-of-enthusiasm-at/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) > [The Chinese had accused the Tibetans of being terrorists, which is weird. A Tibetan terrorist is like an Amish hacker. It just doesn't fit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/the-chinese-had-accused-the-tibetans-of-being-terrorists-which-is/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [Spiritually, yes, now many people knows Tibetans in spiritual field are very, very advanced but in material field is very, very backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/spiritually-yes-now-many-people-knows-tibetans-in-spiritual-field-are/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Tibetans - at least traditionally - are so totally permeated with the dharma that they don't see any difference between dharma and everyday life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/tibetans-at-least-traditionally-are-so-totally-permeated-with-the/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) ## More by Ma Jian > [Everything I was I carry with me, everything I will belies waiting on the road ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/everything-i-was-i-carry-with-me-everything-i-will-belies-waiting-on/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [I am trying to persuade my family to spend more time in China. It's no fun to be in exile. I can't even figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/i-am-trying-to-persuade-my-family-to-spend-more-time-in-china-it-s-no/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [“I see my skeleton walking down the street now. I’m walking behind it. Our feet touch the ground at the same time. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/i-see-my-skeleton-walking-down-the-street-now-i-m-walking-behind-it/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [Red Dust was about the late 1980s; it was a time of burgeoning hopes and opening up and people searching for new ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/red-dust-was-about-the-late-1980s-it-was-a-time-of-burgeoning-hopes/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [I meant that the Chinese people are not aware of their own entrapment. They believe they live in a free society, but don't realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/i-meant-that-the-chinese-people-are-not-aware-of-their-own-entrapment/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [I am completely in favour of dialogue and engagement. But it must be a true, open dialogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/i-am-completely-in-favour-of-dialogue-and-engagement-but-it-must-be-a/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [I have to live within my memories, within my private universe, and continually return to China, the land where my thoughts are locked. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/i-have-to-live-within-my-memories-within-my-private-universe-and/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [After the Tiananmen Massacre, I felt compelled not only to continue writing but to actively resist the restrictions placed on freedom of speech. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/after-the-tiananmen-massacre-i-felt-compelled-not-only-to-continue/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [The Beijing Olympics represent China's grand entrance onto the world stage and confirmation of its new superpower status.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/the-beijing-olympics-represent-china-s-grand-entrance-onto-the-world/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [China is completely lacking in self-awareness and as someone who has stepped outside that society, I have a responsibility to write about it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/china-is-completely-lacking-in-self-awareness-and-as-someone-who-has/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [“When our parents are alive, they stand in front of us, blocking our view of death. But once they’ve gone, we find ourselves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/when-our-parents-are-alive-they-stand-in-front-of-us-blocking-our/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [It is vitally important for me, both personally and for my writing, to be able to return to China freely, so being barred entry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/it-is-vitally-important-for-me-both-personally-and-for-my-writing-to/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [The literal meaning of the Chinese characters for revolution is elimination of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/the-literal-meaning-of-the-chinese-characters-for-revolution-is/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [“Before the sparrow arrived, you had almost stopped thinking about flight. Then, last winter, it soared through the sky and landed in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/before-the-sparrow-arrived-you-had-almost-stopped-thinking-about/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) > [In my 20s, when I was a photojournalist in Beijing. I joined an underground art group and put on clandestine exhibitions of my paintings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-jian/in-my-20s-when-i-was-a-photojournalist-in-beijing-i-joined-an/) [Ma Jian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) [Explore all 46 Ma Jian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-jian/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe that the Tibetans should have the right to control their own destinies and decide for themselves whether they want to be part of China or not. But this view isn't shared by most Chinese, or even the leaders of most Western democracies. 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