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
Controversial 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
Controversial 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
Controversial Unverifiable

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

Approx. 1910s — Call for unity
Controversial Unverifiable

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

Approx. 1910s — Encouragement to revolutionaries
Controversial Unverifiable

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

Approx. 1920s — Emphasis on political education
Controversial 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
Controversial 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
Controversial 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
Controversial Unverifiable

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

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

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

1924 — Economic philosophy within People's Livelihood
Controversial Unverifiable

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

Approx. 1910s — Principle of popular sovereignty
Controversial Unverifiable

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

Approx. 1920s — Internationalist outlook
Controversial Unverifiable

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

Approx. 1920s — Warning against internal strife
Controversial 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)
Controversial Unverifiable

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

Approx. 1910s — Nature of revolution
Controversial Unverifiable

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

Approx. 1920s — Aspiration for national strength
Controversial Unverifiable

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

Approx. 1920s — Democratic ideal
Controversial 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…
Humorous Unverifiable

To understand is difficult; to act is easy.

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