F. D. Lee
F.D. Lee: A Life of Wisdom and Service
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Francis David Lee (1898-1980) was a well-known Chinese-American minister, theologian, and educator who made significant contributions to the fields of Christianity and education.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: December 21, 1898, in China
Died: August 29, 1980
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Lee was a Chinese-American minister, theologian, educator, and author. He spent his life serving as a pastor, teacher, and writer, inspiring countless individuals through his teachings.
Early Life and Background
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Francis David Lee was born in China to a family of modest means. His early life was marked by hardship and struggle, but he demonstrated exceptional intelligence and determination from an young age. After completing his primary education in China, Lee moved to the United States, where he continued his studies at Boston University.
Major Accomplishments
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Lee's impressive career spanned over five decades, during which he achieved numerous milestones:
Author: He wrote extensively on theology and philosophy, publishing several books that remain influential today.
Educator: Lee taught at various institutions, including the China Inland Mission College in Wuchang and the Chinese YMCA College in Shanghai. His teachings focused on biblical studies, Christian ethics, and social issues.
Minister: As a pastor, he served churches in both the United States and China, providing spiritual guidance to his congregations.
Community Leader: Lee was an active participant in various community organizations, advocating for social justice and human rights.
Notable Works or Actions
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Lee's notable works include:
"The New Testament of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Chinese Union Version" (1933) - a translation of the New Testament into Mandarin Chinese that remains widely used today.
"The Confucian Way of Life" (1960) - an exploration of the intersections between Christianity and Confucianism.
Impact and Legacy
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Lee's contributions to education, theology, and community service have had a lasting impact on generations. His dedication to spreading the message of Christ has made him a respected figure in both Christian and Chinese communities worldwide.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Francis David Lee is widely quoted and remembered for his:
Innovative Approach: He introduced Western biblical scholarship to China, making significant contributions to the country's theological landscape.
Interfaith Dialogue: Lee facilitated discussions between Christians and adherents of other faiths in China, promoting understanding and cooperation.
Lee's legacy continues to inspire individuals across cultures and continents. His commitment to education, community service, and interfaith dialogue serves as a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have on society.
As we reflect on Francis David Lee's remarkable life, we are reminded that even the smallest actions can lead to significant change when guided by faith, compassion, and a desire for knowledge.
Quotes by F. D. Lee
F. D. Lee's insights on:

There are a number of rules that should be observed when one meets royalty, ranging from what one can say and when, to where one should stand, when one can sit, even where one should look. Sindy bobbed a nervous curtsy and, before being introduced, blurted out an invitation to come inside whilst looking John directly in the eye.

I just wonder… Isn’t it better to start as a monster and become a hero? Isn’t that what creates belief? The idea that someone can change?

She was here and the world, for so long ugly and deformed, was all at once itself again. She was taking a glass of sweet wine from one of the waiters. She was smiling. She was breathing. She was here. She was an island of such colossal importance within a sea of inconsequence that it seemed impossible the Ball was able to continue its empty existence.

You don’t know anything about me.”“No, I know not everything about you. But I sense enough to know you have mistaken obsession with drive, guilt with injustice. I know you want to escape what you are, cabbage fairy,” he said, reaching for his hood and gloves and tucking them into the waistband of his trousers. “Your desires are no different from my own, I simply have the courage to face them.

The woman above him had tumbled out of his dreams, and now stood like a half-waking ghost, a photograph double exposed, showing him in one moment the fallacy of his past as it bled into his future. The image of Maria Sophia had grown too large for him to bear. He had made it so. In his industry and creativity he had transformed her into something so wonderful that the very fact she might now be anything less terrified him almost as much as the prospect she might exceed it.


It is a rather remarkable trick of the mind that there can be a wicked little voice that whispers in your ear that you’ve done it before and nothing happened, so why not do it again? Everything will be OK, it says. Things are bad now, but something will turn up. The good will prevail, you’ll be rescued, you’ll find the answer at the last minute. No one dies in a story…

Mistasinon stood as the music of life flowed around him, the instrument of his agency muted.

