Ma Yansong Quotes

I'm not following anybody's tracks, I'm making my own baby.

You've got to be able to think on your own; you've got to be creative. You can't be willing to take a backseat.

A scientist, an artist, a citizen is not like a child who needs papa methodology and mama rationality to give him security and direction, he can take care of himself, for he is the inventor not only of laws, theories, pictures, plays, forms of music, ways of dealing with his fellow man, institutions, but also entire world view, he is the inventor of entire forms of like.

The only ones who can really benefit by consulting the model are those who can produce their effect without a model.

Being independent... is being innovative out of inspiration as well as necessity.

I just like doing things from my own head.

Doing it your own way, not having to go exactly by the book to be successful.

There was no one near to confuse me, so I was forced to become original.

If I need something, I'll invent it.

We did what we wanted to do, made it work, and made our own rules - and the best art we could - along the way.

I learned a lot from other people, and was inspired by what they did, but I didn't copy anyone. I put many different blocks together to become what I am. I don't know if that would have happened if everything was handed to me on a plate.

It is a poor wit who lives by borrowing the words, decisions, mien, inventions and actions of others.

Life is composed of different inventions. I have continued to work at different things and rebuilt my home all by myself. I did it for the sake of satisfaction at doing something.

Students must have initiative; they should not be mere imitators. They must learn to think and act for themselves - and be free.

Create your own method. Don't depend slavishly on mine. Make up something that will work for you! But keep breaking traditions, I beg you.

Forget about trying to compete with someone else. Create your own pathway. Create your own new vision.

When I designed my first house in L.A., I didn't have any money - I did it all on my own. I liked that.

Work out of your work. Don't work out of anybody else's work.

I'm the type of person that doesn't like to wait for people to do things for me, and I never want to feel stuck. Why sit around and be like, 'I wish my label would book me some studio time,' if I can just buy my own studio equipment and figure out how to run Pro Tools and record it myself?

I just know that it's smart for my career to carve my own path and do my own thing.

If you are going to have to play defense all the time, you cannot have the kind of ingenuity, assertiveness, independence, and intelligence which is what has made our country strong.

I must create a system or be enslaved by another mans; I will not reason and compare: my business is to create.

Do what is right... do it with honesty and vigor. Be creative - that's important. Don't follow what other people are doing.

I quickly realized I had to have my own style and strategy and find my own way.

I never follow anybody's path, what they've done.