Yang Zhu Quotes on Politics
Yang Zhu (conventionally placed in the fourth century BCE), the principal philosopher of the early Chinese egoist current that the Mencius and the Liezi preserve in fragmentary discussion, gave Warring States political thought its most uncompromising rejection of the Confucian and Mohist programmes of public service. The framework presses the case that the cultivation of one's own life and the preservation of one's own person against the predations of public office are the proper goals of the philosophical life — that one would not pluck out a single hair from one's body even if doing so would benefit the entire empire — and supplies the principal Chinese precedent against which the Confucian, Mohist, and Legalist doctrines of public political obligation were subsequently defined.
Quotes
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Attributed to Yang Zhu:
“I would not pluck a single hair from my body to benefit the empire.”
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“Li Peng Delivers Important Speech On Behalf Of Party Central Committee And State Council" (1989)”
First of all, I fully support the report and the various demands that Comrade Li Peng has made on behalf of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau . Beijing of late is actually in an anarchistic state. Basically, the work of government organs, classes in schools, transportation, industry, and so forth have all been thrown into a confused state. This confused state is, in reality, a state o -
“The arrival of PLA troops in the vicinity of Beijing is definitely not aimed at dealing with students. They have not come here to deal with the students. Their aim is to restore the normal order of production, of life, of work in Beijing Municipality. At the same time, they aim to protect a number of important departments and major government organs. Therefore, the stationing of the PLA troops in the capital is aimed at maintaining public security. They are, by no means, directed at the students. Everyone will be able to clearly see their activities in the next few days [applause].”
Li Peng Delivers Important Speech On Behalf Of Party Central Committee And State Council" (1989) -
“Li Peng Delivers Important Speech On Behalf Of Party Central Committee And State Council" (1989)”
The arrival of PLA troops in the vicinity of Beijing is definitely not aimed at dealing with students. They have not come here to deal with the students. Their aim is to restore the normal order of production, of life, of work in Beijing Municipality. At the same time, they aim to protect a number of important departments and major government organs. Therefore, the stationing of the PLA troops in -
“Li Peng Delivers Important Speech On Behalf Of Party Central Committee And State Council" (1989)”
That is to say that the PLA troops are compelled to enter the capital in order to restore the normal order in Beijing, maintain public security, and prevent important government organizations from being affected or stormed. I would like to explain this point clearly to all those who are present here. The PLA troops' arrival is definitely not aimed at dealing with the students. It is hoped that all -
“Judging from the existing conditions, a modernized and regular revolutionary army with special Chinese characteristics should be one which conforms to our national conditions, which flexibly integrates advanced military thinking and fine traditions with modern weapons and equipment and competent military personnel, and which possesses the capacity to defend itself in modern warfare; in other words, a developed people's army with the tradition of people's war plus modern military science, weapons, and equipment.”
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