Chinese people like to do things with a low profile; they do not like to expose their wealth.
— Chen Guangbiao
My individual power is limited. I want to use my high-profile way to wake people up to take action together to do good things. I can only awake them with my performance art and creativity.
For lots of people who became rich, they believe they earned their fortune through hard work. They don't think about society and only want to leave their fortune to their children.
I don't know anything about propaganda for Chinese reunification. I only know about charity and environmental work. I just want to do good.
I have to be grateful to our society here in China, grateful to the economic reforms for letting me get rich, and grateful for the efforts of my staff. If there had been no reforms, I would have been a farmer.
My plan for 'The New York Times,' if I get the deal, will be putting the paper on every newsstand across the country and making 'The Times' accessible to every Chinese household. China is such a big market and is too big to miss.
I was not born into a rich family or a family of government officials.
Society needs hundreds of hundreds of thousands of Chen Guangbiaos.
The world needs a person like me so that many other rich people will be able to follow my role model. If they do, many poor people will be helped.
When I was young, I liked to be acknowledged in class by little gestures such as a small red star for doing something good. Now that I'm older, I still want to be acknowledged for good work.
My younger brother runs a guesthouse, and my sister is a janitor. I have not given them money because they earn their own money. I pay for their children's school fees.
My wealth is very limited. I need to influence other people to give.
I intend to buy 'The New York Times.' Please don't take it as a joke.
Even though I am smiling, I have some suffering in my heart.
If you put a brick on my head and break it, I will be fine.
I'm a rich man, but I don't want to be a miser.
It's hard to be a good philanthropist in China.
Whenever I see people in difficulty, I just try to help them. In fact, I believe I have helped over 700,000 people in my life.
I want to tell mayors, county chiefs and heads of big companies: don't just chase GDP growth; don't chase the biggest profits at the expense of our children and grandchildren and at the cost of sacrificing our ecological environment.
I want to spread the message in the U.S. that there are good philanthropists in China, and not all are crazy spenders on luxury goods.
If you have only a glass of water, then one person can drink. If you have a bucket, a whole family can benefit.
One summer vacation, I carried water to the town market to sell it, and I used some of the money I made to help a neighbour.
My goal is to work diligently to become the top philanthropist in the world.
Starting my business has been very hard work. I have received no help from any officials at all.
I may be a maverick, but it doesn't mean I like playing tricks.
If my wisdom could get support from officials, I think society would move forward 20 years.
I want to record the name of Chen Guangbiao in Chinese history.
Although there are people saying I'm putting on a show, I'm hoping more will emulate my 'performance.' If more people did, more needy people would get help.
I have a responsibility to devote my energy to my country and my people.
I have been doing good deeds since I was just a small child.
When I was 4 years old, my brother and sister died of hunger, so I achieved my success through confidence, self-motivation and my hard work.
If you have a river, then you should share it with everyone.
Many rich people in China made their fortunes by damaging natural resources and building corrupt relations with the government.
When I was eight years old, I was always starving. My brother and sister died from starvation.
I want Chinese history to remember me as Carnegie is remembered. I want Chinese people to remember me as they remember Marx and Lenin.
I like to get my hands dirty. Talk is cheap.
The tradition and style of the 'New York Times' make it very difficult to have objective coverage of China. If we could purchase it, its tone might turn around.