Gao Xingjian Quotes

It's about something that I'm extremely passionate about: exploring other cultures, how Americans are perceived by other cultures and how we perceive other cultures through our worldview. I travel whenever I get an opportunity to do so, and I think this country is ready for a show on television that is bilingual and really puts front and center another culture, both as the protagonist and the antagonist.

I'm interested in having a relationship with the world that's not my own.

A lot of times when we work overseas we tend to put the experience of someone who lives overseas, a Chinese person or a Korean person or a Bosnian person, within the prism of an American life.

Even when well translated. can we really understand what other cultures are talking about?

Genuine cosmopolitanism is a rare thing. It requires comfort with real difference, with forms of life that are truly exotic relative to one's own.

I'm inspired by many artists whose language I don't understand.

Living abroad has heightened my interest in how foreigners regard the strange places we encounter.

I wanted to introduce a contemporary Asia to a North American audience.

The relationship between East and West needs to be and can be fixed via pop culture.

Each language has its own take on the world. That's why a translation can never be absolutely exact, and therefore, when you enter another language and speak with its speakers, you become a slightly different person; you learn a different sort of world.

If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.

I think the international appeal of SF is quite understandable since the kinds of people who like to read it, are, by the nature of the beast, interested in other cultures, of which other nations on Earth are the closest available example.

The biggest lesson I've learned by living abroad for the last four years is the importance of communication.

Honestly, I'm cool with everyone, and people pick up on that. I'd say, 'I'm not gay, but it's all good.' It's kind of like going to Paris when you don't know the language; some Americans get into trouble over there, but I'm just like, 'Sorry, I don't speak French.'

When I was in Taiwan, we were there for about 8 months, and I was 11 at the time, so it was definitely a culture shock. But it was a really interesting time to be there. I didn't entirely realize how different it is from the States. I just accepted it because I was there and my parents needed to be there.

National culture can act as a bridge, instead of an obstacle, to mutual spiritual and intellectual understanding.

When our diplomats go abroad, they are surprised that they can't do the things that they can do here.

I couldn't get along with the French.

Whenever I'm around Spanish people, I'm kind of like a fly on the wall.

I was born and raised in China, Mandarin is my first language, and I definitely know America. I think that will be my strength, to try and bring the two worlds together.

I like embracing other cultures.

We need cultural awareness and a cooperative approach with other countries versus a dominating approach.

You have to go to other countries to realize Taipei is a place where there is diversity of thought.

In the U.S., the FBI or the people I met from the Department of Justice might be ignorant about Islam or about the East more generally, but I felt they were less willing to make blanket judgments about Muslims. This caution was less evident with some of the authorities I met in India.

When I worked with Chinese crew for the first time, including production unit, spot boys etc, everyone was so affectionate, sweet and kind.