I was not born into a rich family or a family of government officials.
Chen Guangbiao
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.
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.
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.
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.
When I was eight years old, I was always starving. My brother and sister died from starvation.
If you have only a glass of water, then one person can drink. If you have a bucket, a whole family can benefit.
Many rich people in China made their fortunes by damaging natural resources and building corrupt relations with the government.
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.
It's hard to be a good philanthropist in China.
I have been doing good deeds since I was just a small child.
I like to get my hands dirty. Talk is cheap.
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 may be a maverick, but it doesn't mean I like playing tricks.
I intend to buy 'The New York Times.' Please don't take it as a joke.
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.
My wealth is very limited. I need to influence other people to give.
Starting my business has been very hard work. I have received no help from any officials at all.
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 goal is to work diligently to become the top philanthropist in the world.
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.
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.
Society needs hundreds of hundreds of thousands of Chen Guangbiaos.
If you have a river, then you should share it with everyone.
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.
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.
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 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.
I have a responsibility to devote my energy to my country and my people.
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'm a rich man, but I don't want to be a miser.
I want to record the name of Chen Guangbiao in Chinese history.
If you put a brick on my head and break it, I will be fine.
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.
If my wisdom could get support from officials, I think society would move forward 20 years.
Even though I am smiling, I have some suffering in my heart.
Chinese people like to do things with a low profile; they do not like to expose their wealth.
