When you use words, you're able to keep your mind alive. Writing is my way of reaffirming my own existence. (Gao Xingjian)
Love is so holy, so confusing. It makes a man anxious, tormented. Love, how can I define it? (Gao Xingjian)
In the history of literature there are many great enduring works which were not published in the lifetimes of the authors. If the authors had not achieved self-affirmation while writing, how could they have continued to write? (Gao Xingjian)
Observing humans and observing oneself yields a clear-minded starting point for literature. (Gao Xingjian)
As a male writer, women are always what men pursue, and their world is always a mystery. So I always tried to present as many views as possible on women's worlds. (Gao Xingjian)
In the grand tradition, both Chinese and Western painting have a close link with literature, (Gao Xingjian)
For me, writing was a question of survival...I could not trust anyone, even my family. The atmosphere was so poisoned. People even in your own family could turn you in. (Gao Xingjian)