Qin Guli Quotes
Qin Guli was an early Chinese Mohist philosopher of the late fifth century BC, the principal disciple of Mozi and traditionally his successor as head of the Mohist school. His teaching activity is mentioned in several early Chinese texts, including the Lushi Chunqiu, where he appears as the leader of the Mohist community in the years after Mozi's death and as one of the figures responsible for the transmission of the master's doctrines to the next generation. The quotes below are attributed to Qin Guli, organized by topic.
Qin Guli on God
-
Attributed to Qin Guli:
“Heaven loves all impartially; we should imitate Heaven.”
Qin Guli on Justice
-
“For me, Qian represents the self and the precocious, mischievous child who went from knowing only love and acceptance to living in daily shame and hunger. And Julie represents the pre-teen, teen, and woman who was determined to survive no matter the cost, even if it meant hiding or obliterating her origin story and her authentic self. Both of these names are integral parts of me, and I can no more choose between them than I can between my left and right legs.”
An Interview With Qian Julie Wang" in Penguin Random House -
“When I taught myself English on library books in the 90s, it was very difficult to find books that reflected me and my reality. That lack of representation left me feeling even more lonely and shameful. When I expressed that to my mother, she never failed to tell me that I would one day have the power to change that. So, thanks to my mother’s wisdom that vision and dream was always with me. I’m just grateful that it is now a reality.”
Author Q&A: Qian Julie Wang" (23 December 2021)
Qin Guli on Knowledge
-
“An Interview With Qian Julie Wang" in Penguin Random House”
For me, Qian represents the self and the precocious, mischievous child who went from knowing only love and acceptance to living in daily shame and hunger. And Julie represents the pre-teen, teen, and woman who was determined to survive no matter the cost, even if it meant hiding or obliterating her origin story and her authentic self. Both of these names are integral parts of me, and I can no more -
“For a child who found herself transported overnight to other side of the world, where she knew no one other than her parents, books were my salvation.”
An Interview With Qian Julie Wang" in Penguin Random House -
“An Interview With Qian Julie Wang" in Penguin Random House”
For a child who found herself transported overnight to other side of the world, where she knew no one other than her parents, books were my salvation. -
“Author Q&A: Qian Julie Wang" (23 December 2021)”
When I taught myself English on library books in the 90s, it was very difficult to find books that reflected me and my reality. That lack of representation left me feeling even more lonely and shameful. When I expressed that to my mother, she never failed to tell me that I would one day have the power to change that. So, thanks to my mother’s wisdom that vision and dream was always with me. I’m ju -
“In our undocumented existence, it was unsafe for me to be fully honest about myself and my reality with any other real person. Fictional characters thus formed my safe circle — the place in which I was safe to be my full self. Overnight, I also saw all my loved ones and family disappear, and I didn’t know whether I would ever see them again. The characters of these books filled that void of loneliness, and in their presence I learned that it was natural to be scared sometimes, or lonely. They also taught me the power of storytelling, and of words.”
Author Q&A: Qian Julie Wang" (23 December 2021) -
“Author Q&A: Qian Julie Wang" (23 December 2021)”
In our undocumented existence, it was unsafe for me to be fully honest about myself and my reality with any other real person. Fictional characters thus formed my safe circle — the place in which I was safe to be my full self. Overnight, I also saw all my loved ones and family disappear, and I didn’t know whether I would ever see them again. The characters of these books filled that void of loneli -
“Author Q&A: Qian Julie Wang" (23 December 2021)”
The act of processing the memories I had suppressed for decades had freed me to see not just younger me, but the younger versions of my mother and father in their full dimensions. That in turn allowed me to honour everything we had been and had experienced—both the good and the bad.
Qin Guli on Love
-
Attributed to Qin Guli:
“Universal love is the way; without it, all government is faction.”
-
Attributed to Qin Guli:
“He who loves only his own family teaches his family to love only themselves.”
Qin Guli on Politics
-
Attributed to Qin Guli:
“What benefits the people is the proper test of any institution.”
Qin Guli on Virtue
-
Attributed to Qin Guli:
“The Mohist serves the doctrine; the doctrine has no need to serve the Mohist.”
-
“The act of processing the memories I had suppressed for decades had freed me to see not just younger me, but the younger versions of my mother and father in their full dimensions. That in turn allowed me to honour everything we had been and had experienced—both the good and the bad.”
Author Q&A: Qian Julie Wang" (23 December 2021)