I’ll continue on the path I’ve been taking, feet on the ground, describing people’s lives, describing people’s emotions, writing from the standpoint of the ordinary people. – Mo Yan
Possibly because I’ve lived so much of my life in difficult circumstances, I think I have a more profound understanding of life. – Mo Yan
My works are Chinese literature, which is part of world literature. They show the life of Chinese people as well as the country’s unique culture and folk customs. – Mo Yan
I think writers write for their consciences, they write for their own true audiences, for their souls. – Mo Yan
I think that China has many outstanding authors, and their great works should also be recognised by the world. – Mo Yan
I am also well aware that literature only has a minimal influence on political disputes or economic crises in the world, but its significance to human beings is ancient. – Mo Yan
A writer should express criticism and indignation at the dark side of society and the ugliness of human nature, but we should not use one uniform expression. – Mo Yan
For a country boy, poor as I was, whose constant worry was to be able to have enough to eat, the Army guaranteed one’s survival. – Mo Yan
When literature exists, perhaps we do not notice how important it is, but when it does not exist, our lives become coarsened and brutal. For this reason, I am proud of my profession, but also aware of its importance. – Mo Yan
I heard so many stories from Gaomi’s peasants that I had an irrepressible urge to write them down. Today, Gaomi’s peasants know that they have become famous around the world through my writings, but I think they are a little puzzled by this. – Mo Yan
