"If the Chinese will not learn the true principles of government, all else will be useless. Knowledge is power, and although a country may be weak, still, if it possess but a modicum of knowledge, the enemy will not be able to completely overthrow it; although that country may be in danger, the race will not be extirpated."
Zhang ZhidongTiny Panda Quotes
Quotes by Zhang Zhidong
Zhang Zhidong (1837-1909) was a pivotal figure in late Qing Dynasty China, renowned for his role as a statesman and reformer. Born in Hubei province, he championed modernization efforts through education and military reform, advocating for the adoption of Western technologies to strengthen China against foreign powers. As the Governor-General of various provinces, he implemented significant changes in infrastructure and industry, leaving a lasting legacy that influenced China's path toward modernization. Zhang's vision embodied the struggle between tradition and progress in a transformative era.
3 quotes found
"In order to defend the Chinese race, one must first defend the Confucian culture; and in order to defend the Confucian culture, one must first defend the State. This is because what preserves the race relies upon intelligence, which is in turn nurtured by Confucian education."
Zhang Zhidong"If, by one determined purpose, the hearts of all the graduates, the officials, and the men of China were united, our country would rest upon a great rock, and we could defy the world to overthrow us. To attain this object, it is necessary first that every man should fulfill his duty to his parents and elders. The country would then be at peace."
Zhang Zhidong