Happy Birthday, Mo Yan, born 17 February 1955.
Five Quotes
- When literature exists, perhaps we do not notice how important it is, but when it does not exist, our lives become coarsened and brutal. For this reason, I am proud of my profession, but also aware of its importance.
- A writer should bury his thoughts deep and convey them through the characters in his novel.
- I think writers write for their consciences, they write for their own true audiences, for their souls.
- One of the biggest problems in literature is the lack of subtlety.
- Literature only has a minimal influence on political disputes or economic crises in the world, but its significance to human beings is ancient.
Mo Yan, whose real name is Guan Moye, is a Chinese novelist and short story writer. In 2012, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. His best-known novels include Red Sorghum, which was made into an award-winning film; The Garlic Ballads; and Big Breasts and Wide Hips.
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