Physicist who led Tsinghua University from 1931, through the war years when it formed 西南联大 in Kunming, and refounded it in Hsinchu, Taiwan. He said a university is great for its 大师 (masters), not its buildings.
Mei Yiqi said: 'A great university is so called not because it has great buildings, but because it has great masters.'
Tips
usage
His 1931 inaugural line turns on three words that start with 大: 所谓大学者，非谓有大楼之谓也，有大师之谓也, 'a 大学 (university) is so called not for having 大楼 (big buildings) but for having 大师 (great masters)'.
culture
Tsinghua people call him 永远的校长, 'the forever president'. He was so careful with words that students mocked him in a rhyme beginning 大概或者也许是，不过我们不敢说, 'probably, perhaps, maybe so, but we wouldn't dare say'.
