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Mao Zedong

184 quotes

• “Do not stop half way and do not ever go backward. There is no way behind you.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “Trust the majority of the cadres and the masses. This is essential.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “We, the communists, do not want official positions; we want revolution. We must have a thoroughly revolutionary spirit and must be with the masses every hour, every minute. As long as we are with the masses, we shall always be victorious.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “It is to the advantage of despots to keep people ignorant; it is to our advantage to make them intelligent. We must lead all of them gradually away from ignorance.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “Wind will not cease even if trees want to rest.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “Without destruction there can be no construction; without blockage there can be no flow; without stoppage there can be no movement.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “No need to be afraid of tidal waves; human society has been evolved out of 'tidal waves'.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “You should pay attention to state affairs and carry the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution through to the end!”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “This is a movement on a vast scale. It has indeed mobilized the masses. It is of very great significance to the revolutionization of the thinking of the people throughout the country.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “A communist must never stay aloof from or above the masses like a bureaucrat. He ought to be like an ordinary worker in the presence of the masses, join them, and become one of them.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “In any revolution, its internal causes are fundamental and its external ones are supplementary.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “A revolution depends on an inner core. This, the bourgeois faction in authority and the faction in authority which has committed mistakes know best; [their] peripheral organizations merely add fuel to the fire.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “Young people should be permitted to make mistakes. As long as their general orientation is correct, let them make minor mistakes. I believe that they can correct themselves in practical work.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “The basic contradiction the great proletarian Cultural Revolution is trying to resolve is the one between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, between the proletarian and bourgeois roads. The main point of the movement is to struggle against the capitalist roaders in authority in the party.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “The peoples of the world must have courage, dare to fight, and fear no hardships. When the ones in front fall, the others behind must follow up. In this way, the world will belong to the people and all the demons will be eliminated.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “Democracy sometimes looks like an end in itself, but in fact it is merely a means to an end.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “The revolutionary red guards and revolutionary student organizations must form a grand alliance. As long as they are revolutionary mass organizations, they must form a great alliance according to revolutionary principles.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “The basic ideological programme of the great proletarian Cultural Revolution is 'to combat selfishness and criticize revisionism.'”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “The Cultural Revolution can only be the emancipation of the masses by the masses.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) first seen 1967 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Nov. 11, 1967

• “Except in the deserts, at every place of human habitation there is the left, the centre, and the right. This will continue to be so 10,000 years hence.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) first seen 1968 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: April 22, 1968

• “It is absolutely necessary for educated young people to go to the countryside to be re-educated by the poor and lower-middle peasants. Cadres and other city people should be persuaded to send their sons and daughters who have finished junior or senior middle school, college, or university to the countryside. Let us mobilize. Comrades throughout the countryside should welcome them.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) first seen 1968 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Dec. 22, 1968

• “In Chinese and In English: Various Types of Mao Zedong's Writings”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “我们需要的是热烈而镇定的情绪，紧张而有秩序的工作。”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) first seen 1936 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Problems of Strategy in China's Revolutionary War", (December 1936), Selected Works, Vol. I, p. 211.

• “I knew the Classics, but disliked them. What I enjoyed were the romances of Old China, and especially stories of rebellions. I read the Yo Fei Chuan, Shui Hu Chuan, Fan T'ang, San Kuo, and Hsi Yu Chi, while still very young, and despite the vigilance of my old teacher, who hated these outlawed books and called them wicked. I used to read them in school, covering them up with a Classic when the teacher walked past. So also did most of my schoolmates. We learned many of the stories almost by heart, and discussed and re-discussed them many times. We knew more of them than the old men of the village, who also loved them and used to exchange stories with us. I believe that perhaps I was much influenced by such books, read at an impressionable age.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) first seen 1937 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: In Edgar Snow's Red Star Over China (1937)

• “不同质的矛盾，只有用不同质的方法才能解决。”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “由于中国民族资产阶级是殖民地半殖民地国家的资产阶级，是受帝国主义压迫的，所以，虽然处在帝国主义时代，他们也还是在一定时期中和一定程度上，保存着反对外国帝国主义和反对本国官僚军阀政府（这后者，例如在辛亥革命时期和北伐战争时期）的革命性，可以同无产阶级、小资产阶级联合起来，反对它们所愿意反对的敌人。这是中国资产阶级和旧俄帝国的资产阶级的不同之点。在旧俄帝国，因为它已经是一个军事封建的帝国主义，是侵略别人的，所以俄国的资产阶级没有什么革命性。在那里，无产阶级的任务，是反对资产阶级，而不是联合它。在中国，因为它是殖民地半殖民地，是被人侵略的，所以中国民族资产阶级还有在一定时期中和一定程度上的革命性。在这里，无产阶级的任务，在于不忽视民族资产阶级的这种革命性，而和他们建立反帝国主义和反官僚军阀政府的统一战线。 但同时，也即是由于他们是殖民地半殖民地的资产阶级，他们在经济上和政治上是异常软弱的，他们又保存了另一种性质，即对于革命敌人的妥协性。中国的民族资产阶级，即使在革命时，也不愿意同帝国主义完全分裂，并且他们同农村中的地租剥削有密切联系，因此，他们就不愿和不能彻底推翻帝国主义，更加不愿和更加不能彻底推翻封建势力。这样，中国资产阶级民主革命的两个基本问题，两大基本任务，中国民族资产阶级都不能解决。至于中国的大资产阶级，以国民党为代表，在一九二七年至一九三七年这一个长的时期内，一直是投入帝国主义的怀抱，并和封建势力结成同盟，反对革命人民的。中国的民族资产阶级也曾在一九二七年及其以后的一个时期内一度附和过反革命。在抗日战争中，大资产阶级的一部分，以汪精卫为代表，又已投降敌人，表示了大资产阶级的新的叛变。这又是中国资产阶级同历史上欧美各国的资产阶级特别是法国的资产阶级的不同之点。在欧美各国，特别在法国，当它们还在革命时代，那里的资产阶级革命是比较彻底的；在中国，资产阶级则连这点彻底性都没有。”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) first seen 1911 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Being a bourgeoisie in a colonial and semi-colonial country and oppressed by imperialism, the Chinese national bourgeoisie retains a certain revolutionary quality at certain periods and to a certain degree--even in the …

• “中国人民从中国解放区和国民党统治区，获得了明显的比较。 难道还不明显吗？两条路线，人民战争的路线和反对人民战争的消极抗日的路线，其结果：一条是胜利的，即使处在中国解放区这种环境恶劣和毫无外援的地位；另一条是失败的，即使处在国民党统治区这种极端有利和取得外国接济的地位。 国民党政府把自己的失败归咎于缺乏武器。但是试问：缺乏武器的是国民党的军队呢，还是解放区的军队？中国解放区的军队是中国军队中武器最缺乏的军队，他们只能从敌人手里夺取武器和在最恶劣条件下自己制造武器。 国民党中央系军队的武器，不是比起地方系军队来要好得多吗？但是比起战斗力来，中央系却多数劣于地方系。 国民党拥有广大的人力资源，但是在它的错误的兵役政策下，人力补充却极端困难。中国解放区处在被敌人分割和战斗频繁的情况之下，因为普遍实施了适合人民需要的民兵和自卫军制度，又防止了对于人力资源的滥用和浪费，人力动员却可以源源不竭。 国民党拥有粮食丰富的广大地区，人民每年供给它七千万至一万万市担的粮食，但是大部分被经手人员中饱了，致使国民党的军队经常缺乏粮食，士兵饿得面黄肌瘦。中国解放区的主要部分隔在敌后，遭受敌人烧杀抢“三光”政策的摧残，其中有些是像陕北这样贫瘠的区域，但是却能用自己动手、发展农业生产的方法，很好地解决了粮食问题。 国民党区域经济危机极端严重，工业大部分破产了，连布匹这样的日用品也要从美国运来。中国解放区却能用发展工业的方法，自己解决布匹和其他日用品的需要。 在国民党区域，工人、农民、店员、公务人员、知识分子以及文化工作者，生活痛苦，达于极点。中国解放区的全体人民都有饭吃，有衣穿，有事做。 利用抗战发国难财，官吏即商人，贪污成风，廉耻扫地，这是国民党区域的特色之一。艰苦奋斗，以身作则，工作之外，还要生产，奖励廉洁，禁绝贪污，这是中国解放区的特色之一。 国民党区域剥夺人民的一切自由。中国解放区则给予人民以充分的自由。 国民党统治者面前摆着这些反常的状况，怪谁呢？怪别人，还是怪他们自己呢？怪外国缺少援助，还是怪国民党政府的独裁统治和腐败无能呢？这难道还不明白吗？”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “Racial discrimination in the United States is a product of the colonialist and imperialist system. The contradiction between the Black masses in the United States and the U.S. ruling circles is a class contradiction. Only by overthrowing the reactionary rule of the U.S. monopoly capitalist class and destroying the colonialist and imperialist system can the Black people in the United States win complete emancipation. The Black masses and the masses of white working people in the United States have common interests and common objectives to struggle for. Therefore, the Afro-American struggle is winning sympathy and support from increasing numbers of white working people and progressives in the United States. The struggle of the Black people in the United States is bound to merge with the American workers' movement, and this will eventually end the criminal rule of the U.S. monopoly capitalist class.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) first seen 1968 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: A New Storm Against Imperialism" (1968)

• “I said, now that I’m collaborating with the rightists, my reputation isn’t good. I said, in your [the Americans'] country there are two parties and it’s been said that the Democrats are more enlightened. As for the Republicans, they lean more to the right. I said there is nothing great about the Democrats. I neither admire nor am interested in them. I said, when you [Nixon] were running for President, I gave you my vote. You are still not aware of that. [...] This time round, we also gave you our vote [Tanaka]. It’s exactly like you said. If the main player, which is the Liberal Democratic Party [of Japan], doesn’t come here, how can we resolve the issue? [...] I said, that communist party of yours in Japan, I’m not interested in them.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Excerpt of Mao Zedong's conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka (September 27, 1972)

• “哪里有压迫，哪里就有反抗。”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

• “没有一个人民的军队，便没有人民的一切。”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) first seen 1945 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Chapter 9, originally published in On Coalition Government (April 24, 1945), Selected Works, Vol. III, pp. 296-97.

• “我们的原则是党指挥枪，而决不容许枪指挥党。”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) first seen 1938 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Chapter 9, originally published in the Problems of War and Strategy (November 6, 1938), Selected Works, Vol. II, p. 224.

• “Recently there has been a falling off in ideological and political work among students and intellectuals, and some unhealthy tendencies have appeared. Some people seem to think that there is no longer any need to concern oneself with politics or with the future of the motherland and the ideals of mankind. It seems as if Marxism was once all the rage but is currently not so much in fashion. To counter these tendencies, we must strengthen our ideological and political work. Both students and intellectuals should study hard. In addition to the study of their specialized subjects, they must make progress both ideologically and politically, which means that they should study Marxism, current events and politics. Not to have a correct political point of view is like having no soul [...] All departments and organizations should shoulder their responsibilities in ideological and political work. This applies to the Communist Party, the Youth League, government departments in charge of this work, and especially to heads of educational institutions and teachers.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) first seen 1957 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Chapter 12; originally published in "On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People" (27 February 1957), 1st pocket ed., pp. 43-44

• “In the ideological field, the question of who will win in the struggle between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie has not been really settled yet. We still have to wage a protracted struggle against bourgeois and petty bourgeois ideology. It is wrong not to understand this and to give up ideological struggle. All erroneous ideas, all poisonous weeds, all ghosts and monsters, must be subjected to criticism; in no circumstance should they be allowed to spread unchecked. However, the criticism should be fully reasoned, analytical and convincing, and not rough, bureaucratic, metaphysical or dogmatic.”

  Mao Zedong (1893–1976) first seen 1957 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source

  Recorded in: Speech at the Chinese Communist Party's National Conference on Propaganda Work (March 12, 1957), 1st pocket edition, pp. 26-27