Mao Zedong Quotes

All political power comes from the barrel of a gun. The communist party must command all the guns, that way, no guns can ever be used to command the party.

When there is not enough to eat, people starve to death. It is better to let half of the people die so that the other half can eat their fill.

Deaths have benefits. They can fertilise the ground.

Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy.

Everything under heaven is in utter chaos; the situation is excellent.

People say that poverty is bad, but in fact poverty is good. The poorer people are, the more revolutionary they are. It is dreadful to imagine a time when everyone will be rich... From a surplus of calories people will have two heads and four legs.

To read too many books is harmful.

The weeds of socialism are better than the crops of capitalism.

People who try to commit suicide - don't attempt to save them! . . . China is such a populous nation, it is not as if we cannot do without a few people.

Don't make a fuss about a world war. At most, people die... Half the population wiped out - this happened quite a few times in Chinese history... It's best if half the population is left, next best one-third.

The young people are the most active and vital force in society. They are the most eager to learn and the least conservative in their thinking. This is especially so in the era of socialism.

A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery. It cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another.

We should support whatever the enemy opposes and oppose whatever the enemy supports

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.

When the enemy advances, withdraw; when he stops, harass; when he tires, strike; when he retreats, pursue.

Power comes from the muzzle of a gun, those that have the guns have the power, those that have the power dictate what type of government their shall be.

The government burns down whole cities while the people are forbidden to light lamps.

Not to have a correct political point of view is like having no soul.

We are indebted to Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin for giving us a weapon. The weapon is not a machine-gun, but Marxism-Leninism.

Passivity is fatal to us. Our goal is to make the enemy passive.

The guerrilla must move amongst the people as a fish swims in the sea.

We Communists are like seeds and the people are like the soil. Wherever we go, we must unite with the people, take root and blossom among them.

All genuine knowledge originates in direct experience.

In time of difficulties, we must not lose sight of our achievements.

Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.