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-SenRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Nationalism can both drive a country's development and serve as a means of survival for its people.
In this quote, Sun Yat-Sen reflects on the dual role of nationalism in society. He suggests that nationalism can be an essential asset for a nation, fueling progress and unity, while also being a crucial element for the survival of a national identity. By stating that 'China has lost this treasure,' he emphasizes the dangers and repercussions of losing a sense of national pride and identity, which can hinder a nation's growth and the well-being of its citizens.
Themes
NationalismCountryIdentityDevelopmentSurvival
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about national identity, one might reference this quote to emphasize the importance of nationalism.
More from Sun Yat-Sen
All quotes βAfter 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-SenRead
What problem does Pan-Asianism attempt to solve? The problem is how to terminate the sufferings of the Asiatic peoples and how to resist the aggression of the powerful European countries. In a word, Pan-Asianism represents the cause of the oppressed Asiatic peoples.
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How can human rights be ever developed for the majority of Chinese people? The only way is to organize. To organize workers, peasants, merchants, industrialists, and students at the grassroots level.
Sun Yat-SenRead
At thirteen, I accompanied my mother to the Hawaiian Islands. There, for the first time, I saw the wonder of a steamship and the vastness of the ocean. From that time on, I was eager to acquire the knowledge of the West and to fathom the mysteries of nature.
Sun Yat-SenRead
Because of poverty, we must adopt the capitalist means of production to develop our resources to get rich. However, if we ignore the issue of social justice at the beginning of China's industrialization, we will sow the seeds of class warfare in the future.
Sun Yat-SenRead
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