Portrait of Sun Yat-sen

Sun Yat-sen

Father of modern China

Modern influential 85 sayings

Sayings by Sun Yat-sen

All men are created equal, and they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Approx. 1920s — Echoing American Declaration of Independence in his writings on democracy
Social & Racial Unverifiable

The Kuomintang is the party of the people, and it will lead the people to national independence and freedom.

1924 — Statement on the role of the Kuomintang
General Unverifiable

The corrupt government of the Qing dynasty is the root cause of China's weakness and backwardness.

Approx. 1900s — Critique of the Qing Dynasty
Political Unverifiable

We must unite all patriotic forces, regardless of their background, to save China.

Approx. 1910s — Call for unity
General Unverifiable

The revolution is a long and arduous struggle, but we will ultimately triumph.

Approx. 1910s — Encouragement to revolutionaries
General Unverifiable

To achieve democracy, the people must first be educated about their rights and responsibilities.

Approx. 1920s — Emphasis on political education
General Unverifiable

The principle of nationalism is the foundation of our nation's survival and development.

1924 — Lecture on the Three Principles of the People, Nationalism, Lecture One
General Unverifiable

The people's livelihood means the people's existence, the people's welfare, the people's life.

1924 — Lecture on the Three Principles of the People, People's Livelihood, Lecture One
General Unverifiable

The aim of democracy is to enable the people to exercise their political power.

1924 — Lecture on the Three Principles of the People, Democracy, Lecture One
Political Unverifiable

The only way to save China is to establish a strong, unified, and democratic government.

Approx. 1920s — Vision for a new China
Political Unverifiable

To be truly independent, a nation must first be economically independent.

1924 — Economic philosophy within People's Livelihood
General Unverifiable

The revolution must be carried out by the people, for the people.

Approx. 1910s — Principle of popular sovereignty
General Unverifiable

We must unite with all revolutionary forces in the world to fight against imperialism.

Approx. 1920s — Internationalist outlook
General Unverifiable

The greatest enemy of the Chinese people is not foreign powers, but internal division and disunity.

Approx. 1920s — Warning against internal strife
General Unverifiable

The ultimate goal of the revolution is to achieve a world of universal harmony and great unity.

Approx. 1920s — Philosophical ideal of Datong (Great Unity)
General Unverifiable

The revolution is a process of destruction and construction. We must destroy the old and build the new.

Approx. 1910s — Nature of revolution
War & Violence Unverifiable

The Chinese nation must regain its lost sovereignty and stand tall among the nations of the world.

Approx. 1920s — Aspiration for national strength
General Unverifiable

The people are the masters of the country, and the government is their servant.

Approx. 1920s — Democratic ideal
Political Unverifiable

The Chinese people have only family and clan solidarity; they do not have national spirit...they are just a heap of loose sand... Other men are the carving knife and serving dish; we are the fish and the meat.

1924 — Describing the state of the Chinese people without national unity, in a speech or writing on nationa…
Food & Drink Unverifiable

To understand is difficult; to act is easy.

1944 (as quoted) — A philosophical statement on the nature of understanding versus action.
General Unverifiable
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