Quote by Ding Ling: “I write not because I want to, but because I must.”

This quote reveals a deep, intrinsic motivation for writing, suggesting it's not a mere hobby but an unavoidable compulsion. It expresses the profound sense of duty and inner necessity that drives creative expression, particularly when addressing societal issues and injustices.

Ding Ling was a prominent writer during China's turbulent 20th century, using her craft to explore women's issues and social realities. Her writing was often a response to the pressing political and social conditions, driven by a strong sense of purpose.

Chinese feminist writer and Communist Party member whose fiction explored gender, politics, and social transformation in twentieth-century China. Born in Hunan in 1904, she became famous with her bold portrayals of female interiority and was awarded the Stalin Prize for Literature in 1951 before being purged during the Anti-Rightist Campaign in 1957. She was rehabilitated after Mao's death.