Sun Yat-sen

Sun Yat-sen

Revolutionary, Politician

Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese revolutionary and the founding father of the Republic of China, known for his role in overthrowing the Qing Dynasty and promoting democracy.

People Easy War Difficult Political Class
Born
November 12, 1866
Died
March 12, 1925
Quotes
15
Rank
#226

About Sun Yat-sen

Sun Yat-sen — Life and Legacy

Sun Yat-sen, a pivotal figure in modern Chinese history, is celebrated for his role in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China. His vision for a democratic society was encapsulated in his 'Three Principles of the People,' which called for nationalism, democracy, and people's livelihood. Sun's quotes often reflect his deep commitment to freedom and the empowerment of the Chinese people. For instance, his assertion that 'The revolution must be carried out by the people' underscores his belief that genuine change requires the active participation of the masses. Sun Yat-sen challenged the traditional imperial structure, advocating for a government that represented the people's interests rather than those of a ruling elite. His quote, 'The Chinese people must stand up,' serves as a rallying cry for national pride and self-determination, emphasizing the need for the populace to assert their rights and freedoms. Today, Sun's ideas remain relevant as they resonate with ongoing struggles for democracy and self-governance around the world. His emphasis on national sovereignty and the importance of collective action continues to inspire movements advocating for justice and equality.

Quote collection

Sun Yat-sen quotes

15 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Sun Yat-sen Revolutionary, Politician
Popular

"To understand is hard. Once one understands, action is easy."

Character Action Easy
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Sun Yat-sen Revolutionary, Politician
Popular

"An individual should not have too much freedom. A nation should have absolute freedom."

Should Have Too Much Individual
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Sun Yat-sen Revolutionary, Politician
Popular

"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."

Men Knives People
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Sun Yat-sen Revolutionary, Politician
Popular

"If the idea of revolution is to win out, it must be through political enlightenment. It is useless to try to impose it by force of arms."

Winning Ideas Political
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Sun Yat-sen Revolutionary, Politician
Popular

"Trust is earned by many deeds, and lost by only one."

Deeds Lost
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Sun Yat-sen Revolutionary, Politician
Popular

"When we undertake a task, we should not falter from first to last until the task is accomplished; if we fail, we should not begrudge our lives as a sacrifice-this is what we mean by loyalty. The ancient teaching of loyalty meant sometimes death."

Loyalty Perseverance Teaching
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Sun Yat-sen Revolutionary, Politician
Popular

"In the construction of a country, it is not the practical workers but the idealists and planners that are difficult to find."

Country Construction Difficult
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Sun Yat-sen Revolutionary, Politician
Popular

"China is now suffering from poverty, not from unequal distribution of wealth. Where there are inequalities of wealth, the methods of Marx can, of course, be used; a class war can be advocated to destroy the inequalities. But in China, where industry is not yet developed, Marx's class war and dictatorship of the proletariat are impracticable."

War Class Suffering
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Sun Yat-sen Revolutionary, Politician
Popular

"To understand is difficult; to act is easy."

Easy Difficult
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Sun Yat-sen Revolutionary, Politician
Popular

"It is only after mature deliberation and thorough preparation that I have decided upon the Program of Revolution and defined the procedure of the revolution in three stages. The first is the period of military government; the second, the period of political tutelage; and the third, the period of constitutional government."

Military Government Political
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Sun Yat-sen Revolutionary, Politician
Popular

"Class war is not the cause of social progress; it is a disease developed in the course of social progress. The cause of the disease is the inability to subsist, and the result of the disease is war."

War Class Progress
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