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Sun Yat-sen Quotes

Which, autocracy or democracy, is really better suited to modern China? If we base our judgment upon the intelligence and the ability of the Chinese people, we come to the conclusion that the sovereignty of the people would be far more suitable for us.

– Sun Yat-sen

The individual must not be allowed to be overly free, but the country must be entirely free. When the country can exercise freedom, China will have become a mighty and prosperous nation.

– Sun Yat-sen

At Kobe, whither I fled from Hong Kong, I took a step of great importance. I cut off my cue, which had been growing all my life.

– Sun Yat-sen

For forty years, I have devoted myself to the cause of the people’s revolution with but one aim in view – the elevation of China to a position of freedom and equality among the nations.

– Sun Yat-sen

All our compatriots know that the loss of Mongolia would mean the demise of our country. We would rather resist Russia and die heroically than succumb to Russia and perish shamefully.

– Sun Yat-sen

China’s republican politics is like a child who just started schooling. He must have a good teacher and be surrounded by good friends. By the same token, the Chinese people, new to the republican politics, must be educated properly. The revolutionary government should be the people’s tutor to impart advanced awareness and experience.

– Sun Yat-sen

After the Manchu government had carried on wars with foreign nations and had been defeated, China was forced to sign many unequal treaties. Foreign nations are still using these treaties to bind China, and as a result, China fails at whatever she attempts.

– Sun Yat-sen

No matter what nationalities became a part of our country in the future, they would have to assimilate into the Han nationality. The nationalism our party supports is a positive nationalism. Do not forget that.

– Sun Yat-sen

When only a minority consisting of capitalists can enjoy the good life, while the majority of workers must endure hardship, they will naturally not be able to live together in peace and harmony.

– Sun Yat-sen

A political revolution must proceed simultaneously with the nationalist revolution. When we overthrow the Manchu regime, we will achieve not only a nationalist revolution against the Manchus but also a political revolution against monarchy. They are not to be carried out at two different times.

– Sun Yat-sen

Like Moscow, I wish to lay the foundation of the Chinese Republic deeply in the minds of the young generation – the workers of tomorrow.

– Sun Yat-sen

We say that a group united and developed in the royal way, by forces of nature, is a race; a group united and developed by way of might, by human forces, is a state. This, then, is the difference between a race or nationality and a state.

– Sun Yat-sen

I am a Christian; God sent me to fight evil for my people. Jesus was a revolutionist; so am I.

– Sun Yat-sen

It is the common wish of the people that the autocratic rule of the Manchu government be overthrown, that the Republic of China be strengthened, and that people’s livelihood and welfare be pursued.

– Sun Yat-sen

We should recognize that nationalism does not mean discriminating against people of a different nationality. It simply means not allowing such people to seize our political power, for only when we Han are in control politically do we have a nation.

– Sun Yat-sen

We want to overthrow the imperial power not because it is Manchurian but because we want republicanism… We republican revolutionaries can never have the notion of becoming emperors after the revolution, like all the peasant rebels did in the past.

– Sun Yat-sen

A republic has been established, and our compatriots in Mongolia, Tibet, Qinghai and Xinjiang, who have always been a part of China, are all now Chinese citizens who are masters of their country.

– Sun Yat-sen

This thing called nationalism is a treasure that a country uses to try to develop and a nationality uses to try to survive. China has lost this treasure.

– Sun Yat-sen

We must wait for the official history of the Chinese Revolution to record in greater detail the invaluable work of our Japanese friends.

– Sun Yat-sen

All my comrades must continue to exert their efforts according to my ‘Programme of National Reconstruction,’ ‘Outline of Reconstruction,’ the ‘Three Principles of the People,’ and the ‘Manifesto’ issued by the First National Congress of our Party, and strive on earnestly for the consummation of the end we have in view.

– Sun Yat-sen

When the people share everything in the state, then will we truly reach the goal of the Min Sheng Principle, which is Confucius’ hope of a ‘great commonwealth.’

– Sun Yat-sen

The India-China intercourse began from the era of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Both interacted with each other peacefully and conducted scholarly and ideological exchanges. Both loved and admired each other; never had there been a slight clash.

– Sun Yat-sen

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