Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Mao Zedong

Quote by Mao Zedong

Work

Selected works of Mao Tse-Tung

This volume includes essays, speeches, and other writings by Mao Tse-Tung, offering insights into his political philosophy and leadership during the Chinese Revolution and the early years of the People's Republic of China. more

Author

Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong

Mao Zedong, born on December 26, 1893, in Xiangtan County, Hunan Province, and died on September 9, 1976. He was one of the founders of the Communist Party of China and served as the Chairman of the People's Republic of China. Mao played a significant role in the history of China's revolution and construction, proposing many theories and practices with profound influence. more

You May Also Like

“Some people have read a few Marxist books and think themselves quite learned but what they have read has not penetrated, has not struck root in their minds, so that they do not know how to use it and their class feelings remain as of old. Others are very conceited and having learned some book-phrases, think them terrific and are very cocky; but whenever a storm blows up, they take a stand very different from that of the workers and the majority of the peasants. They waver while the latter stand firm, they equivocate while the latter are forthright.”

“I do not remember having felt, as a boy, any passion for mathematics, and such notions as I may have had of the career of a mathematician were far from noble. I thought of mathematics in terms of examinations and scholarships: I wanted to beat other boys, and this seemed to be the way in which I could do so most decisively.”

“I myself, a professional mathematician, on re-reading my own work find it strains my mental powers to recall to mind from the figures the meanings of the demonstrations, meanings which I myself originally put into the figures and the text from my mind. But when I attempt to remedy the obscurity of the material by putting in extra words, I see myself falling into the opposite fault of becoming chatty in something mathematical.”

“It may be true that people who are merely mathematicians have certain specific shortcomings; however that is not the fault of mathematics, but is true of every exclusive occupation. Likewise a mere linguist, a mere jurist, a mere soldier, a mere merchant, and so forth. One could add such idle chatter that when a certain exclusive occupation is often connected with certain specific shortcomings, it is on the other hand always free of certain other shortcomings.”