How to Be a Good Communist

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How to Be a Good

CommunistWritten/Published: July 1939Source: Selected Works of Liu Shaoqi, Volume I First Published: Foreign Languages PressOnline Version: Liu Shaoqi Reference Archive, February 200Transcription and Markup: !enne"h #igha$ an% &i'e ()

Liu Shaoqi

How to Be a Good Communist

July 1939 [A], 1

*o$ra%es,

+he ques"ion shall %iscuss us ho- $e$bers of "he *o$$unis" Par"yshoul% cul"iva"e an% "e$.er "he$selves) " $ay no" be un.rofi"able "o "he

buil%ing an% consoli%a"ion of "he Par"y "o "a'e u. "his ques"ion a" "his .resen"

"i$e)

Contents:

) /hy *o$$unis"s &us" n%er"a'e Self *ul"iva"ion

) (e /or"hy Pu.ils of &ar an% Lenin

) +he Self*ul"iva"ion of *o$$unis"s an% "he Revolu"ionary Prac"ice of

"he &asses

) +he ni"y of +heore"ical S"u%y an% %eological Self*ul"iva"ion

)+he *ause of *o$$unis$ is "he 4rea"es" an% &os" Ar%uousn%er"a'ing in #u$an #is"ory

https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/liu-shaoqi/1939/how-to-be/ch01.htm#1


https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/liu-shaoqi/1939/how-to-be/ch01.htm


















) A Par"y &e$ber5s Personal n"eres"s &us" be ncon%i"ionally

Subor%ina"e% "o "he n"eres"s of "he Par"y

) 6a$.les of /rong %eology in "he Par"y

) +he Source of /rong %eology in 7ur Par"y

8) A""i"u%es +o-ar%s /rong %eology in "he Par"y an% +o-ar%s nner

Par"y S"ruggle

I. Why Communists Must Undertake Self Cultivation

/hy $us" *o$$unis"s un%er"a'e "o cul"iva"e "he$selves

n or%er "o live, $an $us" -age a s"ruggle agains" na"ure an% $a'e use of na"ure "o .ro%uce $a"erial values) A" all "i$es an% un%er all con%i"ions, his

.ro%uc"ion of $a"erial "hings is social in charac"er) " follo-s "ha" -hen $en

engage in .ro%uc"ion a" any s"age of social %evelo.$en", "hey have "o en"er in"o cer"ain rela"ions of .ro%uc"ion -i"h one ano"her) n "heir ceaseless

s"ruggle agains" na"ure, $en ceaselessly change na"ure an% si$ul"aneously

change "he$selves an% "heir $u"ual rela"ions) &en "he$selves, "heir socialrela"ions, "heir for$ of social organi:a"ion an% consciousness -ere all

%ifferen" fro$ -ha" "hey are "o%ay, an% in "he fu"ure "hey -ill again be%ifferen")

&an'in% an% hu$an socie"y are in .rocess of his"orical %evelo.$en")

/hen hu$an socie"y reache% a cer"ain his"orical s"age, classes an% class

s"ruggle e$erge%) 6very $e$ber of a class socie"y eis"s as a $e$ber of agiven class an% lives in given con%i"ions of class s"ruggle) &an;s social being

%e"er$ines his consciousness) n class socie"y "he i%eology of "he $e$bers of

each class reflec"s a %ifferen" .osi"ion an% %ifferen" class in"eres"s) +he class

s"ruggle cons"an"ly goes on a$ong "hese classes -i"h "heir %ifferen" .osi"ions,in"eres"s an% i%eologies) +hus i" is no" only in "he s"ruggle agains" na"ure bu"

in "he s"ruggle of social classes "ha" $en change na"ure, change socie"y an% a""he sa$e "i$e change "he$selves)

&ar an% 6ngels sai%<

(o"h for "he .ro%uc"ion on a $ass scale of "his co$$unis"

consciousness, an% for "he success of "he cause i"self, "he al"era"ion of $en















on a $ass scale is necessary, an al"era"ion "ha" can only "a'e .lace in a

.rac"ical $ove$en", a revolution= "he revolu"ion is necessary, "herefore,

no" only "he ruling class canno" be over"hro-n in any o"her -ay, bu" also

because "he classoverthrowing i" can only in a revolu"ion succee% in

ri%%ing i"self of all "he $uc' of ages an% beco$e fi""e% "o foun% socie"yane-)2

+ha" is "o say, "he .role"aria" $us" conscien"iously go "hrough long .erio%s

of social revolu"ionary s"ruggles an%, in such s"ruggles change socie"y an%change i"self)

/e shoul% "herefore see ourselves as in nee% of change an% ca.able of being change%) /e shoul% no" loo' u.on ourselves as i$$u"able, .erfec" an%

sacrosanc", as .ersons -ho nee% no" an% canno" be change%) /hen -e .ose"he "as' of re$oul%ing ourselves in social s"ruggle, -e are no" %e$eaning

ourselves= "he ob>ec"ive la-s of social %evelo.$en" %e$an% i") nless -e %o

so, -e canno" $a'e .rogress, or fulfill "he "as' of changing socie"y)

/e *o$$unis"s are "he $os" a%vance% revolu"ionaries in $o%ern his"ory="o %ay "he changing of socie"y an% "he -orl% res"s u.on us an% -e are "he

%riving force in "his change) " is by unre$i""ing s"ruggle agains" coun"errevolu"ionaries3 "ha" -e *o$$unis"s change socie"y an% "he -orl%, an% a" "he

sa$e "i$e ourselves)

/hen -e say *o$$unis"s $us" re$oul% "he$selves by -aging s"ruggles

in every s.here agains" "he coun"errevolu"ionaries,3

-e $ean "ha" i" is"hrough such s"ruggles "ha" "hey $us" see' "o $a'e .rogress an% $us"

enhance "heir revolu"ionary quali"y an% abili"y) An i$$a"ure revolu"ionary

has "o go "hrough a long .rocess of revolu"ionary "e$.ering an% selfcul"iva"ion, a long .rocess of re$oul%ing, before he ca$ beco$e a $a"ure

an% seasone% revolu"ionary -ho can gras. an% s'ilfully a..ly "he la-s of

revolu"ion) For in "he firs" .lace, a co$.ara"ively i$$a"ure revolu"ionary, born an% bre% in "he ol% socie"y, carries -i"h hi$ "he re$nan"s of "he various

i%eologies of "ha" socie"y ?inclu%ing i"s .re>u%ices, habi"s an% "ra%i"ions@, an%

in "he secon% he has no" been "hrough a long .erio% of revolu"ionary ac"ivi"y)+herefore he %oes no" ye" have a really "horough un%ers"an%ing of "he ene$y,

of "he .eo.le or of "he la-s of social %evelo.$en" an% revolu"ionary s"ruggle)n or%er "o change "his s"a"e of affairs, besi%es learning fro$ .as"

revolu"ionary e.erience ?"he .rac"ice of our .re%ecessors@, he $us" hi$self

.ar"ici.a"e in con"e$.orary revolu"ionary .rac"ice, an% in "his revolu"ionary .rac"ice an% s"ruggle agains" all 'in%s of coun"er revolu"ionaries,3 he $us"

bring his conscious ac"ivi"y in"o full .lay an% -or' har% a" s"u%y an% self












cul"iva"ion) 7nly so can he acquire %ee.er e.erience an% un%ers"an%ing of

"he la-s of social %evelo.$en" an% revolu"ionary s"ruggle, acquire a really

"horough un%ers"an%ing of "he ene$y an% "he .eo.le, %iscover his -rongi%eas, habi"s an% .re>u%ices an% correc" "he$, an% "hus raise "he level of his

.oli"ical consciousness, cul"iva"e his revolu"ionary quali"ies an% i$.rove his

revolu"ionary $e"ho%s) #ence, in or%er "o re$oul% hi$self an% raise his o-l

level, a revolu"ionary $us" "a'e .ar" in revolu"ionary .rac"ice fro$ -hich he$us" on no accoun" isola"e hi$self) &oreover, he $us" s"rive "o con%uc" self

cul"iva"ion an% s"u%y in "he course of .rac"ice) 7"her-ise, i" -ill s"ill bei$.ossible for hi$ "o $a'e .rogress)

For ea$.le, several *o$$unis"s "a'e .ar" in a revolu"ionary $ass

s"ruggle "oge"her an% engage in revolu"ionary .rac"ice un%er roughly "hesa$e circu$s"ances an% con%i"ions) " is .ossible "ha" "he effec" of "he

s"ruggle on "hese Par"y $e$bers -ill no" be a" all unifor$) So$e -ill $a'e

very ra.i% .rogress an% so$e -ho use% "o lag behin% -ill even forge ahea%of o"hers) 7"her Par"y $e$bers -ill a%vance very slo-ly) S"ill o"hers -ill

-aver in "he s"ruggle an%, ins"ea% of being .ushe% for-ar% by revolu"ionary .rac"ice, -ill fall behin%) /hy

7r "a'e ano"her ea$.le) &any $e$bers of our Par"y -ere on "he Long

&arch= i" -as a severe .rocess of "e$.ering for "he$, an% "he over-hel$ing

$a>ori"y $a%e very grea" .rogress in%ee%) (u" "he Long &arch ha% "he

o..osi"e effec" on cer"ain in%ivi%uals in "he Par"y) Af"er having been on "heLong &arch "hey began "o shrin' before ar%uous s"ruggles, an% so$e of "he$

even .lanne% "o bac' ou" or "o run a-ay an% la"er, succu$bing "o ou"si%eallure$en"s, ac"ually %eser"e% "he revolu"ionary ran's) &any Par"y $e$bers

"oo' .ar" in "he Long &arch "oge"her, an% ye" i"s i$.ac" an% resul"s varie%very grea"ly) Again, -hy

(asically s.ea'ing, "hese .heno$ena are reflec"ions of our revolu"ionary

ran's of "he class s"ruggle in socie"y) 7ur Par"y $e$bers %iffer in quali"y

because "hey %iffer in social bac'groun% an% have co$e un%er %ifferen"social influences) +hey %iffer in "heir a""i"u%e, s"an% an% co$.rehension in

rela"ion "o "he revolu"ionary .rac"ice, an% consequen"ly "hey %evelo. in

%ifferen" %irec"ions in "he course of revolu"ionary .rac"ice) +his can clearly be seen in your ins"i"u"e as -ell) ou all receive "he sa$e e%uca"ion an%

"raining here, an% ye" because you %iffer in quali"y an% e.erience, in %egreeof effor" an% selfcul"iva"ion, you $ay ob"ain %ifferen" of even con"rary

resul"s) #ence, sub>ec"ive effor" an% selfcul"iva"ion in "he course of



revolu"ionary s"ruggle are absolu"ely essen"ial, in%ee%, in%is.ensable for a

revolu"ionary in re$oul%ing hi$self an% raising his o-n level)

/he"her he >oine% "he revolu"ion long ago or >us" recen"ly, every*o$$unis" -ho -an"s "o beco$e a goo% .oli"ically $a"ure revolu"ionary

$us" un%ergo a long .erio% of "e$.ering in revolu"ionary s"ruggle, $us" s"eel

hi$self in $ass revolu"ionary s"ruggles an% all 'in%s of %ifficul"ies an%har%shi.s, $us" su$ u. "he e.erience gaine% "hrough .rac"ice, $a'e grea"

effor"s in selfcul"iva"ion, raise his i%eological level, heigh"en his abili"y an%

never loose sense of -ha" is ne-) For only "hus can he "urn hi$self in"o a .oli"ically s"aunch revolu"ionary of high quali"y)

*onfucius sai% BA" fif"een, $y $in% -as ben" on learning) A" "hir"y,

coul% "hin' for $yself) A" for"y, -as no longer .er.lee%) A" fif"y, 'ne-"he %ecree of #eaven) A" si"y, $y ear -as a""une% "o "he "ru"h) A" seven"y,

can follo- $y hear";s %esire -i"hou" "ransgressing -ha" is righ")C4

#ere "hefeu%al .hiloso.her -as referring "o his o-n .rocess of selfcul"iva"ion= he %i%no" consi%er hi$self "o have been born a BsageC)

&encius, ano"her feu%al .hiloso.her, sai% "ha" no one ha% fulfille% a Bgrea"

$issionC an% .laye% a role in his"ory -i"hou" firs" un%ergoing a har% .rocessof "e$.ering, a .rocess -hich Beercises his $in% -i"h suffering an%

"oughens his sine-s an% bones -i"h "oil, e.oses his bo%y "o hunger, sub>ec"s

hi$ "o e"re$e .over"y, "h-ar"s his un%er"a'ings an% "hereby s"i$ula"es his$in%, "e$.ers his charac"er an% a%%s "o his ca.aci"iesC) 5 S"ill $ore so $us"

*o$$unis"s give a""en"ion "o "e$.ering an% cul"iva"ing "he$selves in

revolu"ionary s"ruggles, since "hey have "he his"orically un.rece%en"e% Bgrea"$issionC of changing "he -orl%)

7ur *o$$unis" selfcul"iva"ion is "he 'in% essen"ial "o .role"arian

revolu"ionaries) " $us" no" be %ivorce% fro$ revolu"ionary .rac"ice or fro$"he ac"ual revolu"ionary $ove$en"s of "he labouring $asses, an% es.ecially

of "he .role"arian $asses)

*o$ra%e &ao De%ong has sai%<

Eiscover "he "ru"h "hrough .rac"ice, an% again "hrough .rac"ice verify

an% %evelo. "he "ru"h) S"ar" fro$ .erce."ual 'no-le%ge an% ac"ively

%evelo. i" in"o ra"ional 'no-le%ge= "hen s"ar" fro$ ra"ional 'no-le%ge an%

ac"ively gui%e revolu"ionary .rac"ice "o change bo"h "he sub>ec"ive an% "he

ob>ec"ive -orl%) Prac"ice, 'no-le%ge, again .rac"ice an% again 'no-le%ge)

+his for$ re.ea"s i"self in en%less cycles, an% -i"h each cycle "he con"en"

"he con"en" of .rac"ice an% 'no-le%ge rises "o a higher level) Such is "he







-hole of "he %ialec"ical$a"erialis" "heory of 'no-le%ge, an% such is "he%ialec"ical$a"erialis" "heory of "he uni"y of 'no-ing an% %oing)6

7ur Par"y $e$bers shoul% "e$.er "he$selves an% in"ensify "heir self

cul"iva"ion no" only in "he har%shi.s, %ifficul"ies an% reverses of

revolu"ionary .rac"ice, bu" also in "he course of s$oo"h, successful an%vic"orious revolu"ionary .rac"ice) So$e $e$bers of our Par"y canno" s"an%

"he .lau%i"s of success an% vic"ory= "hey le" vic"ories "urn "heir hea%s, beco$e bra:en, arrogan", an% bureaucra"ic an% $ay even vacilla"e, %egenera"e an% beco$e corru."e%, co$.le"ely loosing "heir original revolu"ionary quali"y)

n%ivi%ual ins"ances of "his 'in% are no" unco$$on a$ong our Par"y

$e$bers) +he eis"ence of such a .heno$enon in "he Par"y calls for our co$ra%es; shar. a""en"ion)

n .as" ages, before "he .role"arian revolu"ionaries a..eare% on "he scene,

.rac"ically all revolu"ionaries beca$e corru."e% an% %egenera"e% -i"h "heachieve$en" of vic"ory) +hey los" "heir original revolu"ionary s.iri" an%

beca$e obs"acles "o "he fur"her %evelo.$en" of "he revolu"ion) *hina;s

his"ory over "he .as" cen"ury, or "o s.ea' of $ore recen" "i$es, over "he .as"fif"y years, has sho-n us "ha" $any bourgeois an% .e""ybourgeois

revolu"ionaries in "he .as" an% by "he na"ure of earlier revolu"ions) (efore "he

4rea" 7c"ober Socialis" Revolu"ion in Russia, all revolu"ions "hroughou"his"ory invariably en%e% in "he su..ression of "he rule of one e.loi"ing class

by "ha" of ano"her) +hus, once "hey "he$selves beca$e "he ruling class, "hese

revolu"ionaries los" "heir revolu"ionary quali"y an% "urne% roun% "o o..ress"he e.loi"e% $asses= "his -as "he ineorable la-)

(u" such can never be "he case -i"h "he .role"arian revolu"ion an% -i"h "he

*o$$unis" Par"y) +he .role"arian revolu"ion is a revolu"ion "o abolish alle.loi"a"ion, o..ression an% classes) +he *o$$unis" Par"y re.resen"s "he

.role"aria" -hich is i"self e.loi"e% bu" %oes no" e.loi" o"hers an% -hich can

"herefore carry "he revolu"ion "hrough "o "he en% finally abolish alle.loi"a"ion an% s-ee. a-ay all "he corru."ion an% ro""enness in hu$an

socie"y) +he .role"aria" is able "o buil% a s"ric"ly organi:e% an% %isci.line%

.ar"y an% se" u. a cen"rali:e% an% a" "he sa$e "i$e %e$ocra"ic s"a"ea..ara"us, an% "hrough "he Par"y an% "his s"a"e a..ara"us, i" is able "o lea% "he

$asses of "he .eo.le in -aging unrelen"ing s"ruggle agains" all corru."ion

an% ro""enness an% in ceaselessly -ee%ing ou" of "he Par"y an% "he s"a"eorgans all "hose ele$en"s "ha" have beco$e corru." an% %egenera"e ?-ha"ever

high office "hey $ay hol%@, "hereby .reserving "he .uri"y of "he Par"y an% "hes"a"e a..ara"us) +his ou"s"an%ing fea"ure of "he .role"arian revolu"ion an% of





"he .role"arian revolu"ionary .ar"y %i% no" an% coul% no" eis" in earlier

revolu"ions an% revolu"ionary .ar"ies) &e$bers of our Par"y $us" be clear on

"his .oin", an% .ar"icularly -hen "he revolu"ion is successful an%vic"orious an% -hen "hey "he$selves en>oy "he ever grea"er confi%ence an%

su..or" of "he $asses "hey $us" shar.en "heir vigilance, in"ensify "heir

selfcul"iva"ion in .role"arian i%eology an% al-ays .reserve "heir .ure

.role"arian revolu"ionary charac"er so "ha" "hey -ill no" fall in"o "he ru" of earlier revolu"ionaries -ho %egenera"e% in "he hour of success)

+e$.ering an% selfcul"iva"ion in revolu"ionary .rac"ice an% "e$.ering an%selfcul"iva"ion in .role"arian i%eology are i$.or"an" for every *o$$unis",

es.ecially af"er "he sei:ure of .oli"ical .o-er) +he *o$$unis" Par"y %i% no"

%ro. fro$ heaven bu" -as born ou" of "he *hinese socie"y) 6very $e$ber of "he *o$$unis" .ar"y has co$e fro$ "his socie"y, is living in i" "o%ay an% is

cons"an"ly e.ose% "o i"s sea$y si%e) " is no" sur.rising "hen "ha"

*o$$unis"s, -he"her "hey are of .role"arian or non.role"arian origin an%-he"her "hey are ol% or ne- $e$bers of "he Par"y, shoul% carry -i"h "he$ "o

a grea"er or lesser "he "hin'ing an% habi"s of "he ol% socie"y) n or%er "o .reserve our .uri"y as vanguar% figh"ers of "he .role"aria" an% "o enhance our

revolu"ionary quali"y an% -or'ing abili"y "ha" is essen"ial for every

*o$$unis" "o -or' har% "o "e$.er an% cul"iva"e hi$self in every res.ec")

+hese are "he reasons -hy *o$$unis"s $us" un%er"a'e selfcul"iva"ion)

shall no- %iscuss "he cri"eria for *o$$unis" selfcul"iva"ion)

GAH n "he original "ranscri."ion of "his -or', "he 6%i"orial *o$$i""ee onPar"y Li"era"ure ?*en"ral *o$$i""ee of "he *o$$unis" Par"y of *hina@ o."e%

"o se.ara"e e%i"orial an% e.lana"ory no"es in"o "-o se.ara"e ca"egories,

in%e.en%en"ly nu$bere% rela"ive "o ?1@ "he "y.e of no"e an% ?2@ chronologicala..earance in "he "e")

(o"h e%i"orial an% e.lana"ory no"es are .resen"e% in "he .resen""ranscri."ion in chronological or%er base% solely on "he curren" or%er of relevance "o "he selec"e% "e")

1) A lec"ure %elivere% a" "he ins"i"u"e of &aris$Leninis$ in an;an) "

-as inclu%e% in "he Eocu$en"s for "he Rec"ifica"ion &ove$en" Publishe% by"he Libera"ion Press in 193 an% -as re.rin"e% by "he Peo.le;s Publishing

#ouse in 19I2 af"er revision by "he au"hor)

https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/liu-shaoqi/1939/how-to-be/ch01.htm#1b






2) !arl &ar an% Fre%eric' 6ngels, B+he 4er$an %eologyC, Collected

Works, 6ng) 6%), Progress Publishers, &osco-, 19I, ol) , ..) K2K3)

3) /hen "his ar"icle -as re.rin"e% by "he Peo.le;s Publishing #ouse in&arch 190, "he follo-ing e%i"orial no"e a..eare% in "he *hinese e%i"ion<

n "he 19I2 e%i"ion, af"er "he -or% Bcoun"errevolu"ionariesC -as a%%e%

B an% refor$is"sC) +his a%%i"ion -as no" by "he au"hor hi$self, bu" by "hee%i"ors -i"h "he a..roval of "he au"hor) /e are no- .ublishing i" in

accor%ance -i"h "he 199 e%i"ion)

) *onfucius ?KK19 ()*)@ -as also 'no-n as !ong Miu or Dhongni) A

na"ive of Douyi in "he s"a"e of Lu ?no- Mufu *oun"y, Shan%ong Province@ in

"he S.ring an% Au"u$n 6ra, he -as "he foun%er of "he *onfucian school of .hiloso.hy) +his quo"a"ion is fro$ "he *onfucian Analec"s, B/ei DhengC)

K) &enicus ?3229 ()*)@, 'no-n as &eng !e, -as a na"ive of Dou ?no-sou"heas"ern Douian *oun"y, Shan%ong Province@ in "he era of "he /arringS"a"es) #e -as "he $ain .ro.onen" of "he *onfucion %oc"rine af"er

*onfucius) +his quo"a"ion is fro$ Menicus, (oo' , B4ao DiC, Par" )

I) See B7n Prac"iceC, Selected Works of Mao Zedong , 6ng) e%), FLP,

(e>ing, 19K, ol) , .)30)

II. Be Worthy Pupils of Marx and Lenin

+he cons"i"u"ion of "he .ar"y s"i.ula"es "ha" $e$bershi. is o.en "o any$e$ber -ho acce."s "he Progra$$e an% *ons"i"u"ion of "he Par"y

organi:a"ions, .ays $e$bershi. %ues an% -or's in one of "he Par"y

organi:a"ions) No one can be a Par"y $e$ber unless he fulfills "heserequire$en"s) (u" no *o$$unis" shoul% res" con"en" -i"h being a Par"y

$e$ber -ho $erely fulfills "he $ini$u$ require$en"s= as lai% %o-n in "he

Par"y *ons"i"u"ion, he shoul% s"rive "o $a'e .rogress ceaselessly raise "helevel of his .oli"ical consciousness an% %iligen"ly s"u%y &aris$Leninis$,

as $anifes"e% "hroughou" "heir lives)

6ngels sai% of &ar<

)))&ar -as before all else a revolu"ionis") #is real $ission in life -as

"o con"ribu"e, in one -ay or ano"her, "o "he over"hro- of ca.i"alis" socie"y

an% of "he s"a"e ins"i"u"ions -hich i" ha% brough" in"o being, "o con"ribu"e

"o "he libera"ion of "he $o%ern .role"aria", -hich he -as "he firs" "o $a'e

conscious of i"s o-n .osi"ion an% of i"s nee%s, conscious of "he nee%s of i"s













e$anci.a"ion) Figh"ing -as his ele$en") An% he fough" -i"h a .assion, a"enaci"y an% a success such as fe- coul% rival) 1

6ngles also sai% of &ar<

None of us has "he brea%"h of vision -i"h -hich he, -henever i" -asnecessary "o ac" quic'ly, %i% "he righ" "hing an% "ac'le% "he %ecisive issue)2

S"alin sai% concerning "he necessi"y of our learning fro$ "he ea$.le of

Lenin<

Re$e$ber, love an% s"u%y lyich, our "eacher, our lea%er) Figh" an%

%efea" our ene$ies, ho$e an% foreign in "he -ay "ha" lyich "augh" us)

(uil% "he ne- socie"y, "he ne- -ay of life, "he ne- cul"ure in "he -ay "ha"

lyich "augh" us) Never refuse "o %o "he li""le "hings, for fro$ "he li""le"hings are buil" "he big "hings "ha" is one of lyich5s i$.or"an" behes"s)3

7n ano"her occasion S"alin sai%<

+he elec"ors, "he .eo.le, $us" %e$an% "ha" "heir %e.u"ies shoul% re$ain

equal "o "heir "as's, "ha" in "heir -or' "hey shoul% no" sin' "o "he level of

.oli"ical .hilis"ines, "ha" in "heir .os"s %efini"e as Lenin -as, "ha" "hey

shoul% be as fearless in ba""le an% as $erciless "o-ar%s "he co$.lica"e%

an% so$e %anger or o"her loo$s on "he hori:on, "ha" "hey shoul% be as free

fro$ all requiring a co$.rehensive orien"a"ion an% a co$.rehensive-eighing of all "he .ros an% cons as Lenin %i%)4

+hese are "he concise charac"eri:a"ions of &ar by 6ngels an% of Lenin by

S"alin) +ha" is ho- all $e$bers of our Par"y shoul% learn fro$ "he "hin'ingan% quali"ies of &ar an% Lenin an% s"rive "o be "heir -or"hy .u.ils)

So$e say "ha" "he "ha" "he "hin'ing an% quali"ies of such grea"

revolu"ionary geniuses as "he foun%ers of &aris$Leninis$ canno" beacquire% an% "ha" i" is i$.ossible "o raise one5s "hin'ing an% quali"ies "o "heir

high level) +hey regar% "he foun%ers of &aris$Leninis$ as born geniuses ,

as $ys"erious beings) s such a vie- correc" "hin' no")

+rue enough, "he average Par"y co$ra%e is far fro$ .ossessing "he grea"gif"s an% .rofoun% scien"ific 'no-le%ge of "he foun%ers of &aris$

Leninis$, an% $os" of our co$ra%es canno" a""ain "o "heir %ee. an% broa%eru%i"ion in "he "heory of .role"arian revolu"ion) (u" i" is .erfec"ly .ossible

for our co$ra%es "o gras. "he "heory an% $e"ho% of &aris$Leninis$,

cul"iva"e "he s"yle of &ar an% Lenin in -or' an% in s"ruggle, cons"an"lyheigh"en "heir revolu"ionary quali"y an% beco$e s"a"es$en of "he "y.e of

&ar an% Lenin, if "hey really have "he -ill) "a'e a really conscious an%

consis"en" s"an% as vanguar% figh"ers of "he .role"aria", really acquire "he












co$$unis" -orl% ou"loo', never isola"e "he$selves fro$ "he curren" %ee.

an% grea" revolu"ionary $ove$en" of "he .role"aria" an% all "he labouring

$asses, an% eer" "he$selves in s"u%y, self"e$.ering an% selfcul"iva"ion)

+here is a saying of &enicus5, O6verybo%y can be a ao or a Shun) 5 "hin'

"ha" -as -ell sai%) 6very *o$$unis" shoul% 'ee. his fee" on "he groun%,

see' "he "ru"h fro$ "he fac"s, -or' har% a" "e$.ering hi$self, -or' conscien"iously a" selfcul"iva"ion an% %o his bes" "o i$.rove his o-n

"hin'ing an% quali"y) #e shoul% no" regar% "he "hin'ing an% quali"ies of such

grea" revolu"ionaries as "he foun%ers of &aris$Leninis$ as beyon% hisreach, give u. an% be afrai% "o a%vance) For if he %oes so, he -ill beco$e a

O.oli"ical .hilis"ineO, a .iece of Oro""en -oo% "ha" canno" be carve%O)

/e shoul% of course a%o." a correc" a""i"u%e "o-ar%s learning fro$ "hequali"ies of "he foun%ers of &aris$Leninis$ an% "o-ar%s "he learning of

&aris$Leninis$ i"self) 7"her-ise i" is i$.ossible "o learn any"hing, le"alone "o learn i" -ell) n fac", "here are %ifferen" 'in%s of .eo.le in our ran's-i"h %ifferen" a""i"u%es "o-ar%s such learning)

+hese are .eo.le -ho, -hen s"u%ying &ar an% Lenin, fail "o ge" "o "he

essence of &aris$Leninis$, bu" only learn i"s "er$s an% .hrasessu.erficially) Al"hough "hey rea% &aris"Leninis" li"era"ure, "hey are unable

"o use i"s .rinci.les an% conclusions as a gui%e "o ac"ion an% a..ly "he$ "o

concre"e, .rac"ical .roble$s in real life) +hey are con"en" "on learn isola"e% .rinci.les an% conclusions by ro"e, an% even "o s"yle "he$selves as O"he

genuineO &aris"Leninis"s= bu" "hey are cer"ainly no" genuine &aris"

Leninis"s an% "heir ac"ions an% $e"ho%s are %ia$e"rically o..ose% "o&aris$Leninis$)

/e have ha% no" a fe- .eo.le of "his "y.e in "he *hinese *o$$unis" Par"y)

/e ha% cer"ain re.resen"a"ives of %og$a"is$ a" one "i$e -ho -ere even-orse) +hese .eo.le 'ne- absolu"ely no"hing abou" &aris$Leninis$ an%

coul% only babble &aris"Leninis" .hraseology, an% ye" "hey regar%e%"he$selves as *hina5s &ar or *hina5s Lenin, .ose% as such in "he Par"y an%ha% "he i$.u%ence "o require "ha" our Par"y $e$bers shoul% revere "he$ as

&ar an% Lenin are revere%, su..or" "he$ as O"he lea%ersO an% accor% "he$

loyal"y an% %evo"ion) +hey -en" so far as "o a..oin" "he$selves O"he lea%ersO-i"hou" being chosen, cli$be% in"o .osi"ions of au"hori"y, issue% or%ers "o "he

Par"y li'e .a"riarchs, "rie% "o lec"ure our Par"y, abuse% every"hing in "he Par"y,

-ilfully a""ac'e% an% .unishe% our Par"y $e$bers an% .ushe% "he$ aroun%)





+hose .eo.le ha% no sincere %esire "o s"u%y &aris$Leninis$ or figh" for

"he reali:a"ion of co$$unis$ "hey -ere >us" careeris"s in "he Par"y, "er$i"es

in "he co$$unis" $ove$en") Such .eo.le -ere boun% "o be o..ose% an%even"ually un$as'e% an% %iscar%e% by "he ran' an% file) An% in%ee% "hey

-ere %iscar%e% by our Par"y $e$bers) (u" can -e say -i"h full confi%ence

"ha" no such .eo.le -ill rea..ear in our Par"y No, -e canno" ye" say no)

+hen "here are .eo.le of eac"ly "he o..osi"e 'in%) +hey see "he$selves

above all as .u.ils of "he foun%ers of &aris$Leninis$, conscien"iously

s"u%y "he "heory of &aris$Leninis$ an% s"rive "o gras. i"s essence an%s.iri") +hey loo' u. "o "he noble charac"er an% .role"arian revolu"ionary

quali"ies of "he foun%ers, an% in "he course of revolu"ionary s"ruggles "hey

conscien"iously carry on selfcul"iva"ion an% ea$ine "he$selves "o see if "heir han%ling of affairs, "heir %ealings -i"h .eo.le an% "heir o-n behaviour

confor$ "o "he s.iri" of &aris$Leninis$) +hey are -ell rea% in &aris$

Leninis$ bu" a" "he sa$e "i$e "hey $a'e a s.ecial effor" "o inves"iga"e an%analyse living reali"y, "o s"u%y "he charac"eris"ics of "heir o-n "i$e an% all

as.ec"s of "he si"ua"ion facing "he .role"aria" of "heir o-n coun"ry, an% "oin"egra"e "he universal "ru"h of &aris$Leninis$ -i"h "he concre"e .rac"ice

of "he revolu"ion in "heir o-n coun"ry) +hey %o no" con"en" "he$selves -i"h

$e$ori:ing &aris"Leninis" .rinci.les an% conclusions, bu" "a'e a fir$&aris"Leninis" s"an% learn "he &aris"Leninis" $e"ho% an% ac"

accor%ingly, giving s.iri"e% gui%ance in every revolu"ionary s"ruggle, an%

"hus "hey "ransfor$ reali"y an% a" "he sa$e "i$e "ransfor$ "he$selves) 6veryone of "heir ac"ions -i"hou" ece."ion is gui%e% by "he general .rinci.als of

&aris$Leninis$ an% is %evo"e% "o "he vic"ory of "he .role"arian cause, "he

libera"ion of "he na"ion an% all $an'in%, an% "he "riu$.h of *o$$unis$)

+he a""i"u%e of "hese .eo.le is "he only correc" one) " is "he one a""i"u%e

"o-ar%s s"u%ying &aris$Leninis$ an% learning fro$ "he quali"ies of i"s

foun%ers "ha" -ill enable us "o beco$e co$$unis" .role"arian revolu"ionariesof "he &ar an% Lenin "y.e)

A .erson -ho really "a'es .ain "o cul"iva"e hi$self an% "o be a fai"hful

.u.il of "he foun%ers of &aris$Leninis$ -ill lay s.ecial s"ress on

$ain"aining "he &aris"Leninis" s"an% an% using "he &aris"Leninis"vie-.oin" an% $e"ho% "o solve "he .roble$s arising in "he revolu"ionary

$ove$en" lea% by "he .role"aria", as "he foun%ers of &aris$Leninis$ %i%)#e -ill give no "hough" -ha"soever "o his o-n .osi"ion or fa$e in "he Par"y,

nor -ill he ever clai$ "o be a &aror a Lenin, nor require nor e.ec" o"hers



"o have "he sa$e high res.ec" for hi$ as for &ar or Lenin, for he %oes no"

"hin' he has any righ" "o %o so) e" such a .erson -ill en>oy "he consi%ere%

res.ec" an% su..or" of "he $ass of "he Par"y $e$bers >us" because he ac"s in"his -ay, because he is al-ays hones" an% loyal, brave an% fir$, an% sho-s

grea" abili"y in "he revolu"ionary s"ruggle)

7f course i" is no" easy "o $o%el ourselves on "he foun%ers of &aris$Leninis$ an% "o be "heir fai"hful an% -or"hy .u.ils) (u" -e can beco$e "heir

fai"hful an% -or"hy .u.ils if -e are s"rong-ille% an% %e"er$ine% "o figh"

har% for "he cause of co$$unis$, if -e %iligen"ly s"u%y &aris$Leninis$a$i% "he grea" revolu"ionary s"ruggles of "he $asses an% are goo% a"

su$$ing u. e.erience an% if -e "e$.er an% cul"iva"e ourselves in every

res.ec" an% %evo"e our -hole lives "o "he .role"arian co$$unis" cause)

III. The Self-Cultivation of Communists and the Revolutionary

Practice of the Masses

n or%er "o beco$e fai"hful an% -or"hy .u.ils of "he foun%ers of &aris$

Leninis$, -e $us" engage in all roun% selfcul"iva"ion in "he course of "hegrea" an% .ro"rac"e% revolu"ionary s"ruggles of "he .role"aria" an% "he $asses)

/e $us" engage in selfcul"iva"ion in "he &aris"Leninis" "heory= self cul"iva"ion in a..lying "he &aris"Leninis" s"an%, vie- .oin" an% $e"ho% "o

"he s"u%y an% han%ling of all .roble$s= selfcul"iva"ion in .role"arian

i%eology an% $orali"y= selfcul"iva"ion in u.hol%ing uni"y in "he Par"y, .rac"ising cri"icis$ an% selfcri"icis$ an% observing %isci.line= self

cul"iva"ion in %evelo.ing "he s"yle of har% -or' an% .ersis"en" s"ruggle= self

cul"iva"ion in buil%ing close "ies -i"h "he $asses= self cul"iva"ion in various branches of scien"ific 'no-le%ge, e"c) /e are all $e$bers of "he *o$$unis"

Par"y an% "herefore -e $us" all -i"hou" ece."ion carry on selfcul"iva"ion in

"hese res.ec"s) #o-ever, since Par"y $e$bers %iffer fro$ one ano"her in .oli"ical consciousness, e.erience of s"ruggle, fiel% of -or', cul"ural level

an% in "he con%i"ions in -hich "hey -or', i" is na"ural "ha" co$ra%es shoul%%iffer "o so$e e"en" in "he various as.ec"s of selfcul"iva"ion "o -hich "hey$us" .ay s.ecial a""en"ion of -hich "hey $us" s"ress)

/hen Deng Di, in ancien" "i$es, sai%, O reflec" on $yself "hree "i$es a%ay,O1 he -as %iscussing selfea$ina"ion) +he (oo' of 7%es in "he fa$ous

lines, OAs 'nife an% file $a'e s$oo"h "he bone, as >a%e is -rough" by chiselan% s"one, 2 referre% "o "he nee% for hel. an% cri"icis$ a$ong frien%s) /ha"

all "his sho-s is "ha" very har% -or' an% very earnes" selfcul"iva"ion are







essen"ial if one is "o $a'e .rogress) (u" "he Oselfcul"iva"ionO .eruse% by

$any .eo.le in "he .as" -as generally i%ealis"ic, for$alis"ic, abs"rac" an%

%ivorce% fro$ social .rac"ice) +hey eaggera"e% "he role of sub>ec"ivein"en"ions, "hin'ing "ha" so long as "hey ha% Ogoo% -illO in "he abs"rac", "hey

coul% "ransfor$ reali"y, socie"y an% "he$selves) 7f course "his is absur%) 7ur

selfcul"iva"ion canno" be %one "ha" -ay) /e are revolu"ionary $a"erialis"s=

our selfcul"iva"ion canno" be se.ara"e% fro$ "he revolu"ionary .rac"ices of "he $asses)

For us i" is $os" i$.or"an" "o never %ivorce ourselves fro$ "he curren"revolu"ionary s"ruggle of "he $asses, bu" "o i%en"ify ourselves -i"h i", in

or%er "o s"u%y, su$ u. an% a..ly "he revolu"ionary e.erience of "he .as")

+his $eans "ha" -e $us" cul"iva"e an% "e$.er ourselves in revolu"ionary .rac"ice an% "ha" in "urn our selfcul"iva"ion an% "e$.ering are un%er"a'en

solely for "he sa'e of "he .eo.le an% of revolu"ionary .rac"ice) " $eans "ha"

-e $us" $o%es"ly learn "he &aris"Leninis" s"an%, vie-.oin" an% $e"ho%,learn fro$ "he noble .role"arian quali"y of "he foun%ers of &aris$Leninis$

an% a..ly all "his in our .rac"ice, in our -or%s an% %ee%s, our %aily life an%-or', cons"an"ly correc"ing or eli$ina"ing any"hing in our i%eology con"rary

"o i" an% s"reng"hening our o-n .role"arian co$$unis" i%eology an%

charac"er) " $eans "ha" -e shoul% lis"en $o%es"ly "o "he o.inions an%cri"icis$s of our Par"y co$ra%es an% of "he $asses, $a'e a careful s"u%y of

"he .rac"ical .roble$s in our life an% -or', carefully su$ u. an% %ra-

lessons fro$ our e.erience in -or', an% "ha", in "he ligh" of all "his, -eshoul% ascer"ain -he"her our un%ers"an%ing of &aris$Leninis$ an% our

use of "he &aris"Leninis" $e"ho% are correc" an% chec' u. on our

shor"co$ings an% $is"a'es so as "o overco$e "he$ an% i$.rove our -or')Fur"her$ore, on "he basis of ne- e.erience -e shoul% ascer"ain -he"her

"here are any in%ivi%ual conclusions or as.ec"s of &aris$Leninis$ "ha"

nee% su..le$en"ing, enriching an% %evelo.ing) n shor", -e $us" in"egra"e"he universal "ru"h of &aris$ Leninis$ -i"h "he concre"e .rac"ice of "he

revolu"ion)

+his is "he $e"ho% of selfcul"iva"ion for us co$$unis"s) " is en"irely%ifferen" fro$ "hose $e"ho%s of selfcul"iva"ion -hich are i%ealis"ic an%

%ivorce% fro$ "he revolu"ionary .rac"ice of "he $asses)

n or%er "o .ersevere in "his &aris"Leninis" $e"ho% of cul"iva"ion, -e$us" resolu"ely o..ose an% "horoughly era%ica"e one of "he -ors" vices

bequea"he% "o us by "he ol% socie"y in "he fiel% of e%uca"ion an% s"u%y,



na$ely, "he se.ara"ion of "heory fro$ .rac"ice) n "he ol% socie"y $any

.eo.le -ho s"u%ie% "hough" i" unnecessary, or even i$.ossible "o ac" u.on

-ha" "hey ha% learne%, an% "hough "hey -ro"e an% s.o'e abun%an"ly of >us"ice an% $orali"y, in fac" "hey -ere ou" an% ou" scoun%rels) Al"hough "he!uo$in"ang reac"ionaries $e$ori:e "he O+hree Peo.le5s Princi.lesO3 an%

reci"e Sun a"sen5s +es"a$en",4 in ac"ual fac" "hey blee% "he .eo.le -hi"e

-i"h "aes, .rac"ice corru."ion an% slaugh"er, o..ress "he $asses, areo..ose% "o O"hose na"ions -ho "rea" us as equalsO, an% go as far as "oco$.ro$ise -i"h or surren%er "o "he na"ional ene$y) An ol% iucai5 once "ol%

$e "ha" of all "he "eachings of *onfucius he -as able "o observe only "his

one, OFor hi$ no foo% can ever be "oo %ain"y an% no $ince% $ea" "oofineO5 an% "ha" he coul% no" observe "he res" an% ha% never in"en%e% "o) Since

"ha" is -ha" "hese .eo.le are li'e, -hy %o "hey run schools an% s"u%y "he

O"eachings of "he sagesO +hey are af"er a%vance$en" an% $oney, use "he

O"eachings of "he sagesO "o o..ress "he e.loi"e%, an% %eceive "he .eo.le by .aying li. service "o >us"ice an% $orali"y) +his is "y.ical of "he a""i"u%e of "he

e.loi"ing classes of "he ol% socie"y "o-ar%s "he sages "hey O-orshi.O) Nee%less "o say, -hen -e *o$$unis"s s"u%y &aris$Leninis$ an all "ha" is

bes" in our na"ional heri"age, -e $us" never a%o." such an a""i"u%e) /ha" -e

learn -e $us" .rac"ice) (eing .role"arian revolu"ionaries -ho are hones" an% .ure in .ur.ose, -e canno" be un"rue "o ourselves, "o "he .eo.le, or "o "hose

-ho -en" before us) +his is an ou"s"an%ing charac"eris"ic as -ell as a grea"

$eri" of *o$$unis"s)

s i" .ossible "ha" "he ol% socie"y5s se.ara"ion of "heory fro$ .rac"ice can

have no influence on us No, i" is no" " is "rue "ha" none of you s"u%en"s are

s"u%ying &aris$Leninis$ for "he sa'e of a%vance$en" an% $oney an% or o..ressing "he e.loi"e%) e" is i" .ossible "o $ain"ain "ha" none of you ever

en"er"ains "he i%ea "ha" your "hough"s, -or%s, %ee%s an% life %o no"

necessarily have "o be gui%e% by &aris"Leninis" .rinci.les or "ha" you %ono" in"en% "o .u" all "he .rinci.les "ha" you have learne% in"o .rac"ice s i"

.ossible "ha" none of you ever "hin's of s"u%ying &aris$Leninis$ or going

%ee.er in"o "he "heory as a $eans of ge""ing ahea% in life, of sho-ing off an% beco$ing fa$ous canno" guaran"ee "ha" none of you "hin's along "hese

lines) +ha" 'in% of "hin'ing runs coun"er "o &aris$Leninis$ an% "o "he basic &aris"Leninis" .rinci.le of "he in"egra"ion of "heory an% .rac"ice)

*er"ainly -e $us" s"u%y "heory, bu" -e $us" also .rac"ice -ha" -e learn)

An% i" is for "he sa'e of .rac"ice, of "he Par"y, of "he .eo.le, an% of "hevic"ory of "he revolu"ion "ha" -e s"u%y "heory)












+he grea" s"reng"h of &aris$Leninis$ lies .recisely in i"s in"egra"ion

-i"h "he concre"e revolu"ionary .rac"ice of all coun"ries) For "he *hinese

*o$$unis" Par"y, i" is a $a""er of learning "o a..ly "he "heory of

&aris$Leninis$ "o "he s.ecific circu$s"ances of *hina) For "he

*hinese *o$$unis"s -ho are .ar" of "he grea" *hinese na"ion, flesh of i"s

flesh an% bloo% of i"s bloo%, any "al' abou" &aris$ in isola"ion fro$

*hina5s charac"eris"ics is $erely &aris$ in "he abs"rac", &aris$ in avacuu$) #ence "o a..ly &aris$ concre"ely in *hina so "ha" i"s every

$anifes"a"ion has an in%ubi"able *hinese charac"er, i)e), "o a..ly &aris$

in "he ligh" of *hina5s s.ecific charac"eris"ics, beco$es a .roble$ -hich i"

is urgen" for "he -hole Par"y "o un%ers"an% an% solve) Foreign s"ereo"y.es

$us" be abolishe%, "here $us" be less singing of e$."y, abs"rac" "unes, an%

%og$a"is$ $us" be lai% "o res"= "hey $us" be re.lace% by "he fresh, lively*hinese s"yle an% s.iri" -hich "he co$$on .eo.le of *hina love)6

7ur co$ra%es $us" s"u%y "he "heory of &aris$Leninis$ by follo-ing

"he $e"ho% *o$ra%e &ao De%ong s.ea's of here)

1) Deng Di ?K0K3I ()*)@, also 'no-n as Deng Sheng, -as a na"ive of

/ucheng in "he s"a"e of Lu ?no- Feiian *oun"y, Shan%ong Province@ in "heS.ring an% Au"u$n 6ra, an% one of *onfucius5 %isci.les) +his quo"a"ion is

fro$ "he Confucian Analects, B8ue 6rC)

2) 7riginally en"i"le% oems an% la"er, !he "ook of #des, "his is "he earlies"

collec"ion of .oe"ry in *hina) 6%i"e% in "he S.ring an% Au"u$n 6ra, i"s 30K .oe$s fall in"o "hree ca"egories< Bballa%sC, B%ynas"ic hy$nsC an% Bsacrificial

songsC) +he quo"a"ion here is fro$ "he B7%es of /eiC, BMi AoC)

3) +he +hree Peo.le5s Princi.les -ere "he .rinci.les an% .rogra$$es .u"for-ar% by Sun a"sen on "he ques"ions of na"ionalis$, %e$ocracy an% "he

.eo.le5s livelihoo% %uring *hina5s bourgeois%e$ocra"ic revolu"ion) A" "he

Firs" Na"ional *ongress of "he !uo$in"ang in 192, Sun a"sen res"a"e% "he+hree Peo.le5s Princi.les) +hus "he ol% +hree Peo.le5s Princi.les -ere

"ransfor$e% in"o "he ne- +hree Peo.le5s Princi.les charac"eri:e% by "he+hree 4rea" Policies Gcf) No"e KH)

) +he +es"a$en" $a%e by Sun a"sen on his %ea"hbe% on &arch 11,192K)

rea%s as follo-s<

For for"y years have %evo"e% $yself "o "he cause of "he na"ional

revolu"ion -i"h "he ai$ of -inning free%o$ an% equali"y for *hina) &y

e.erience %uring "hese for"y years has fir$ly convince% $e "ha" "o













achieve "his ai$ -e $us" arouse "he $asses of "he .eo.le an% uni"e in a

co$$on figh" -i"h "hose na"ions of "he -orl% -hich "rea" us as equals) A"

.resen" "he revolu"ion is no" ye" co$.le"e%) All $y co$ra%es $us"

Progra$$e of Na"ional Recons"ruc"ion, "he +hree Peo.le5s Princi.les

-ri""en by $e, an% "he &anifes"o of "he Firs" Na"ional *ongress of "he

!uo$in"ang, un"il "his ai$ is a%voca"e% recen"ly $us" be realise% -i"hin

"he shor"es" .ossible "i$e) +his is -ha" -ishe% "o call your a""en"ion "o)

K) Fro$ "he Confucian Analects, B8iang EangC

I) O+he Role of "he *hinese *o$$unis" Par"y in "he Na"ional/arO Selected Works of Mao Zedong of Mao Zedong, 6ng) e%), FLP, (ei>ing,

19K, ol) , ..) 20910)

IV. The Unity of Theoretical Study and Ideological Self-Cultivation

/e *o$$unis"s $us" no" se.ara"e our s"u%y of "heory fro$ our i%eological

selfcul"iva"ion) /e $us" re$oul% ourselves an% "e$.er our .role"ariani%eology no" only in "he .rac"ice of revolu"ion bu" in "he s"u%y of &aris$

Leninis$)

+he vie- is curren" a$ong so$e $e$bers of our Par"y "ha" a fir$ an%

.urely .role"arian s"an% is irrelevan" "o a Par"y $e$ber5s un%ers"an%ing a an%$as"ery of "he "heory an% $e"ho% of &aris$Leninis$) +hey believe "ha"

one can "horoughly un%ers"an% an% genuinely $as"er "he &aris"Leninis""heory an% $e"ho% even "hough one5s .role"arian s"an% $ay no" be very fir$

an% one5s i%eology no" very .ure ?i)e), i" $ay be "ain"e% -i"h "he re$nan"s of non.role"arian i%eas@) +hey believe "ha" "he "heory an% $e"ho% of &aris$Leninis$ can be $as"ere% $erely "hrough boo' learning) +his vie- is -rong)

&aris$Leninis$ is "he science of .role"arian revolu"ion, "he science by

-hich "he -or'ing class buil%s socialis$ an% co$$unis$) " can be

"horoughly un%ers"oo% an% $as"ere% only by "hose -ho have a fir$ .role"arian s"an% an% -ho have $a%e "he i%eals of "he .role"aria" "heir o-n)

/i"hou" a fir$ .role"arian s"an% an% .ure .role"arian i%eals i" is i$.ossiblefor anyone "o "horoughly un%ers"an% or $as"er "he science of &aris$

Leninis$) +he science of &aris$Leninis$ is of li""le of no use "o anyone

-ho is no" a genuine revolu"ionary, -ho is no" a .role"arian revolu"ionary "o"he core, -ho %oes no" -an" "o bring abou" socialis$ an% co$$unis$

"hroughou" "he -orl% an% e$anci.a"e all $an'in%, "o anyone -ho %oes no"

-an" revolu"ion or is un-illing "o carry i" "hrough "o "he en% an% -an"s "os"o. half-ay)







/e of"en co$e across very fine Par"y $e$bers fro$ "he -or'ing class

-ho are no" -ell groun%e% in &aris"Leninis" "heory an% -ho $ay no" %o so

-ell as o"hers in an ea$ina"ion in -hich &aris"Leninis" -or's an%for$ula"ions have "o be quo"e% fro$ $e$ory) e" in s"u%ying &aris$

Leninis$, .rovi%e% i" is e.laine% "o "he$ in language "hey un%ers"an%, "hey

generally sho- $uch 'eener in"eres" an% far grea"er co$.rehension "han

so$e Par"y $e$bers fro$ "he in"elligen"sia) Fore ea$.le, "he sec"ion in*a.i"al concerning sur.lus value is %ifficul" for so$e Par"y $e$bers, bu" no"

for "hose fro$ "he -or'ing class) +he reason is "ha" in "he .rocess of .ro%uc"ion an% of s"ruggle agains" "he ca.i"alis"s, "he -or'ers co$e "o 'no-

all "oo -ell ho- "he ca.i"alis"s calcula"e -ages an% -or'ing hours, e.loi""he -or'ers for .rofi" an% o..ress "he$) +herefore, "hey generally un%ers"an%

&ar5s "heory of sur.lus value $ore .rofoun%ly "han %o so$e Par"y $e$bers

fro$ o"her classes) /hen -e say "ha" $any Par"y $e$bers fro$ "he -or'ing

class are rea%ier "o acce." &aris$Leninis$, -e %o no", of course $ean "ha""heir classbac'groun% $a'es "he$ born &aris"Leninis"s) /e $ean "ha"

.rovi%e% "hey s"u%y &aris"Leninis" "heory $o%es"ly an% %iligen"ly an%have a real gras. of "he $e"ho% of see'ing "he "ru"h fro$ "he fac"s, "hose

co$ra%es -ho have a fir$ an% .urely .role"arian s"an% an% are free fro$

.ersonal .re>u%ice of o"her ble$ishes are cer"ain "o be 'eener an% $orecorrec" "han "he o"hers in "heir observa"ion an% han%ling of .rac"ical

.roble$s) n "he s"ruggle, "oo, "hese co$ra%es -ill .rove $ore able "o

%iscern "he "ru"h an% -ill u.hol% i" $ore courageously an% unhesi"a"ingly)

Also, -e co$e across $any Par"y $e$bers of non.role"arian origin -ho

%iffer in "heir %evelo.$en" o-ing "o "heir %iffering a""i"u%es "o-ar%s "he

rela"ion be"-een &aris"Leninis" s"u%y an% i%eological selfcul"iva"ion)4enerally s.ea'ing, -hen "hey >oin "he revolu"ion such .eo.le %o no" have a

fir$ an% clearcu" .role"arian s"an%, are no" very correc" or .ure in "heir

i%eology, an% "o a grea"er of lesser e"en" carry over various non.role"ariani%eas fro$ "he ol% socie"y) 7bviously "hese i%eas co$e in"o %irec" conflic"

-i"h "he .rinci.les of &aris$Leninis$, an% since "he .eo.le "a'e %ifferen"

a""i"u%es, "he resul"s of "he conflic" %iffer) n s"u%ying &aris$Leninis$,so$e .eo.le correc"ly co$bine "heore"ical s"u%y -i"h "heir i%eological self

cul"iva"ion, using &aris"Leninis" .rinci.les "o figh" an% overco$e -ha"ever is bac'-ar% in "heir "hin'ing) n "his -ay "hy achieve a $ore "ruly .role"arian

s"an% an% a $ore un%ilu"e% .role"arian i%eology, an% learn ho- "o a..ly

&aris"Leninis" .rinci.les "o "he solu"ion of .rac"ical .roble$s) /e have$any such Par"y $e$bers) 7"hers, ho-ever, go "he o..osi"e -ay= "hey have

a lo" of ol% >un' accu$ula"e% in "heir hea%s an% $any s"ubborn habi"s,



.re>u%ices an% selfish %esires, bu" "he lac' of %e"er$ina"ion "o re$oul%

"he$selves) n s"u%ying &aris$Leninis$ "hey %o no" $a'e use of i"s

.rinci.les "o cri"ici:e an% re.u%ia"e -ha"ever is bac'-ar% in "heir o-ni%eology, bu" e$.loy i" as a -ea.on "o fur"her "heir o-n .riva"e en%s, an%

"his is carrie% "o "he .oin" -here "he .rinci.les of &aris$Leninis$ are so

%is"or"e% by "heir ol% .re>u%ices "ha" "hese .eo.le can nei"her reach a correc"

un%ers"an%ing of "hese .rinci.les nor gras. "he s.iri" an% essence of &aris$Leninis$) /hen "hey han%le .rac"ical .roble$s in "he course of

revolu"ionary s"ruggle, "he habi"s an% .re>u%ices -hich "hey have brough"-i"h "he$ fro$ "he ol% socie"y an% "heir in%ivi%ualis"ic calcula"ions le% "he$

"o "hin' in "er$s of .ersonal gain or loss, "o be hesi"an" an% vacilla"ing an%inca.able of going %ee.ly in"o "hings in a free un"ra$$elle% -ay or of

courageously u.hol%ing "he "ru"h , an% "hey conceal or %is"or" "he "ru"h

unin"en"ionally, or even %elibera"ely)

+hese .eo.le are absolu"ely inca.able of gui%ing "heir lives by "he .rinci.als of &aris$Leninis$, an% hence inca.able of %ealing -i"h

.rac"ical .roble$s .ro$."ly, correc"ly an% realis"ically accor%ing "o "hese .rinci.les= so$e"i$es "hey even a%o." a nega"ive a""i"u%e -hen .rac"ical

.roble$s have alrea%y been correc"ly solve% accor%ing "o "hese .rinci.als by

"he Par"y organi:a"ion, or by co$ra%es o"her "han "he$selves) Such "hings arenei"her rare nor unusual, bu" are qui"e co$$on)

+hus -e can say "ha" i" is i$.ossible for a Par"y $e$ber -ho lac's a clearcu" fir$ .role"arian s"an% an% a correc", .urely .role"arian i%eology "o

achieve a "horough un%ers"an%ing an% real $as"ery of "he "heory an% $e"ho%of &aris$Leninis$ as a -ea.on in "he revolu"ionary s"ruggle) n o"her

-or%s a Par"y $e$ber $us" have "he noble s"an% of "he .role"aria" in or%er "o beco$e verse% in &aris"Leninis" "heory)

A" "he sa$e "i$e, -e shoul% a%% "ha" no Par"y $e$ber can $ain"ain a

.role"arian s"an% an% e.ress a .role"arian i%eology concre"ely in every

revolu"ionary s"ruggle unless he s"u%ies "he "heory an% $e"ho% of &aris$Leninis$ %iligen"ly an% gui%es his "hin'ing an% ac"ion accor%ingly)

+here are so$e Par"y $e$bers -ho "hin' i" qui"e enough "o have

revolu"ionary fir$ness an% "o figh" bravely, an% "ha" i" %oes no" $a""er $uch-he"her "hey s"u%y an% un%er"a'e selfcul"iva"ion in &aris"Leninis" "heory)

So$e co$ra%es even "hin' "ha" a goo% class origin or a goo% .ersonal class

s"a"us is all "ha" is nee%e% "o $a'e "he$ vanguar% .role"arian figh"ers, "hus



obvia"ing "he nee% "o s"u%y &aris$Leninis$) +here are o"her co$ra%es

-ho never s"u%y i" earnes"ly in "he course of -or' or s"ruggle, "hough "hey

generally a%$i" "he i$.or"ance of "heory) All such a""i"u%es are obviously-rong)

+he "heory of &aris$Leninis$ is our -ea.on for s"u%ying every

.heno$enon an% %ealing -i"h every ques"ion, an% es.ecially for s"u%ying allsocial .heno$ena an% %ealing -i"h all social ques"ions)) f -e %o no" 'no-

ho- "o -iel% "he -ea.on of &aris"Leninis" "heory, -e shall be unable

correc"ly "o un%ers"an% an% %eal -i"h "he .roble$s confron"ing us in "herevolu"ionary s"ruggle an% shall be in %anger of loosing our bearings an%

%e.ar"ing fro$ "he revolu"ionary .role"arian s"an%, or even, -he"her

consciously or unconsciously, of beco$ing o..or"unis"s of one 'in% or ano"her, ca."ives an% yes$en of "he bourgeoisie)

Revolu"ionary fir$ness an% courage in "he s"ruggle are .recious quali"ies-hich every *o$$unis" $us" .ossess) (esi%es "hese quali"ies, *o$$unis"s$us" have "he abili"y "o fin% "he righ" -ay "o con%uc" "he revolu"ion an% carry

on "he s"ruggle in %ifferen" his"orical .erio%s an% un%er %ifferen" con%i"ions

of s"ruggle, if "hey are "o -in "he vic"ory for "he revolu"ion an% reali:e "hehighes" i%eal of co$$unis$) 7nly by a..lying &aris$Leninis$ can -e

correc"ly solve such i$.or"an" ques"ions in "he revolu"ionary s"ruggle as "he

ques"ion of -ho$ "o rely u.on, -ho$ "o uni"e -i"h an% -ho$ "o over"hro-,

"he ques"ion of -ho are our %irec" allies, -ho is "he $ain ene$y an% -ho are"he secon%ary ene$ies, "he ques"ion of rallying all .ossible allies, inclu%ing

even secon%ary ene$ies un%er cer"ain con%i"ions, "o %efea" "he $ain ene$y,an% "he ques"ion of $a'ing "i$ely changes in s"ra"egy an% "ac"ics "o $ee"

changing si"ua"ions) /i"hou" $as"ering "he -ea.on of &aris$Leninis$an% a""aining a high %egree of selfcul"iva"ion in &aris"Leninis" "heory, -e

canno" .ossibly $ain"ain a fir$, correc" .role"arian s"an% on every i$.or"an"

ques"ion in "he revolu"ionary s"ruggle, or for$ula"e "he .olicies -hich are$os" a%van"ageous "o "he cause of "he .role"arian revolu"ion or cha$.ion "he

overall, long "er$ in"eres"s of "he .role"arian revolu"ionary s"ruggle a$i% "heco$.le si"ua"ions an% shar. changes, -hen i" is necessary for us "o $a'e%e"ours an% "urns)

*onsi%er, for ins"ance, our Par"y5s e.erience in carrying ou" "he .olicy of

"he na"ional uni"e% fron" agains" Ja.an) (efore "he nci%en" of July )193,1 cer"ain co$ra%es %i% no" un%ers"an% "ha" "he con"ra%ic"ion be"-een "he

*hinese na"ion an% Ja.anese i$.erialis$ ha% beco$e "he .rinci.al one -hile





"he con"ra%ic"ions a$ong "he %ifferen" classes an% .oli"ical grou.s -i"hin "he

coun"ry ha% beco$e secon%ary) As a resul", "hey o..ose% "he Par"y5s .olicy of

for$ing a na"ional uni"e% fron" agains" Ja.an) of uni"ing all .a"rio"ic classes,s"ra"a, .oli"ical .ar"ies an% social grou.ings for >oin" resis"ance, an%

es.ecially of uni"ing -i"h "he !uo$in"ang "o figh" Ja.an) Al"hough "hese

co$ra%es "hough" "hey -ere "a'ing a fir$ .role"arian s"an% in o..osing "he

Par"y5s correc" .olicy, "hey ac"ually %e.ar"e% fro$ i" an% .lunge% in"oOclose%%ooris$O an% sec"arianis$) #a% -e ac"e% in accor%ance -i"h "heir

-rong vie-s, "he .role"aria" an% i"s .oli"ical .ar"y -oul% have been unable "ouni"e an% lea% all "he .a"rio"ic classes, s"ra"a, .ar"ies an% social grou.ings for

"he .ur.ose of %efea"ing Ja.anese i$.erialis$= ins"ea%, "he forces of "heAn"iJa.anese Na"ional ni"e% Fron" -oul% have been -ea'ene% an% "he

.role"aria" an% i"s .oli"ical .ar"y -oul% have been isola"e% "o "he %e"ri$en" of

"he s"ruggle "o resis" Ja.an an% save *hina) Af"er "he July "h nci%en", -hen

our Par"y ha% for$e% "he An"iJa.anese Na"ional ni"e% fron" -i"h "he!uo$in"ang, cer"ain co$ra%es -en" "o "he o"her e"re$e, $ain"aining "ha"

since "he !uo$in"ang ha% >oine% in "he resis"ance "o Ja.an, "here -as har%lyany %is"inc"ion be"-een i" an% "he *o$$unis" Par"y) +hey a%o."e% a .olicy

of ca.i"ula"ion by a..easing "he big lan%lor% an% big bourgeois classes an%

"he !uo$in"ang) an% o..ose% "he Par"y5s .olicy of u.hol%ing i"sin%e.en%ence -i"hin "he uni"e% fron") /hile "hey over es"i$a"e% "he s"reng"h

of an% .lace% un%ue "rus" in "he !uo$in"ang, on -hich "hey .inne% all "heir

ho.es for resis"ing Ja.an an% saving *hina, "hey ha% no confi%ence in "he

s"reng"h of "he *o$$unis" Par"y an% "he .eo.le, %i% no" .lace "heir ho.es on"he *o$$unis" Par"y an% "herefore %i% no" %are freely "o e.an% "he Par"y

an% "he an"iJa.anese .eo.le5s revolu"ionary forces an% "o resolu"ely figh"agains" "he !uo$in"ang5s .olicy of o..osing an% res"ric"ing "he *o$$unis"

Par"y) +he co$ra%es -i"h "his a..roach s"yle% "he$selves as "he "ruere.resen"a"ives of "he .role"aria", bu" in essence "heir .olicy -oul% have

$a%e "he .role"aria" a vassal or an a..en%age of "he bourgeoisie, an% -oul%

have cause% "he .role"aria" "o loose "he lea%ershi. of "he An"iJa.anese

Na"ional ni"e% Fron") +hese OLef"O an% Righ" $is"a'es are bo"h s"ri'ingea$.les of "he failure "o "a'e a fir$ .role"arian s"an% an% "o i%en"ify "he

correc" .a"h for a%vancing "he revolu"ionary cause -hen $a>or changes areoccurring in "he .oli"ical si"ua"ion)

+he .role"aria" canno" >us" e$anci.a"e i"self alone= i" $us" figh" for "he

e$anci.a"ion of all "he -or'ing .eo.le, "he e$anci.a"ion of "he na"ion an%of all $an'in%, for only "hus can i" fully e$anci.a"e i"self) +he .role"aria"

$us" ri% "he -hole of hu$an socie"y of e.loi"a"ion, o..ression an% class



s"ruggle once an% for all, for only "hus can i" genuinely an% finally

e$anci.a"e i"self) #ence a fir$ .role"arian s"an% $us" be shar.ly

%ifferen"ia"e% fro$ Oclose%%ooris$5 an% sec"arianis$) n -aging s"ruggles"he .role"aria" an% i"s .oli"ical .ar"y $us" es"ablish close "ies -i"h "he $asses

of -or'ing .eo.le, for$ revolu"ionary alliances -i"h o"her revolu"ionary

classes an% .ar"ies an% lea% "he -or'ing $asses an% all "heir allies for-ar%

"oge"her= "hey $us" re.resen" "he in"eres"s of $ore "han nine"y .er cen" of "he .o.ula"ion of "he coun"ry) +o have a fir$ .role"arian s"an% is "o re.resen" a"

all "i$es an% in all circu$s"ances "he highes" in"eres"s of "he over-hel$ing$a>ori"y of "he .eo.le, -hich, -e $us" un%ers"an%, are also "he highes" class

in"eres"s of "he .role"aria") 7n "he o"her han%, a fir$ .role"arian s"an% $us" be shar.ly %ifferen"ia"e% fro$ all a..ease$en" an% ca.i"ula"ion) n -aging

revolu"ionary s"ruggles "he .role"aria" an% i"s .oli"ical .ar"y $us" %ra- clear

lines of %is"inc"ion no" only be"-een "he$selves an% "he lan%lor% class an%

"he bourgeoisie bu" also be"-een "he$selves an% "he revolu"ionary %e$ocra"sof "he .e""y bourgeoisie, an% $us" even $a'e so$e %is"inc"ion be"-een

"he$selves an% "he $asses of -or'ing .eo.le) n "he revolu"ionary s"ruggle"hey $us" a" all "i$es fir$ly $ain"ain "heir in%e.en%ence an% be free fro$

any bourgeois or o"her non.role"arian class influence) n every s"age of "he

%evelo.$en" of "he revolu"ionary s"ruggle "hey $us" co$bine "he in"eres"s of "he .ar" -i"h "he in"eres"s of "he -hole an% i$$e%ia"e in"eres"s -i"h ling"er$

in"eres"s) As &ar an% 6ngels sai% of *o$$unis"s<

1) n "he na"ional s"ruggles of "he .role"arians of %ifferen" coun"ries,"hey .oin" ou" an% bring "o "he fron" "he co$$on in"eres"s of "he en"ire

.role"aria", in%e.en%en"ly of all na"ionali"y)

2) n "he various s"ages of %evelo.$en" -hich "he s"ruggle of "he

-or'ing class agains" "he bourgeoisie has "o .ass "hrough, "hey al-ays an%every-here re.resen" "he in"eres"s of "he $ove$en" as a -hole)2

Euring his s"ruggle "o organi:e a .oli"ical .ar"y of "he .role"aria" a" "he en%

of "he 19"h cen"ury, Lenin sai%<

+he consciousness of "he $asses an% of "he -or'ers canno" be genuineclass consciousness, unless "he -or'ers learn "o observe fro$ concre"e,

an% above all fro$ "o.ical ?curren"@, .oli"ical fac"s an% even"s, every o"her

social class an% all $anifes"a"ions of "he in"ellec"ual, e"hical an% .oli"ical

life of "hese classes= unless "hey learn "o a..ly in .rac"ice "he $a"erialis"

analysis an% "he $a"erialis" es"i$a"e of all as.ec"s of "he life an% ac"ivi"yof all classes, s"ra"a an% grou.s of "he .o.ula"ion)3

Fur"her<







+he SocialEe$ocra"5s i%eal shoul% no" be a "ra%eunion secre"ary, bu" a

"ribune of "he .eo.le, able "o reac" "o every $anifes"a"ion of "yranny an%

o..ression, no $a""er -here i" "a'es .lace, no $a""er -ha" s"ra"u$ of class of .eo.le i" affec"s= he $us" be able "o generali:e all "hese $anifes"a"ions "o

.ro%uce a single .ic"ure of .olice violence an% ca.i"alis" e.loi"a"ion= he

$us" be able "o "a'e a%van"age of every even", ho-ever s$all, in or%er "o

e.lain his socialis" convic"ions an% %e$ocra"ic %e$an%s "o all an% everyone"he -orl%his"oric significance of "he .role"aria"5s s"ruggle for e$anci.a"ion)4

+o fulfill "he require$en"s ci"e% by Lenin in "hese "-o .assages, -e*o$$unis"s $us" of course unceasingly "a'e .ar" in "he revolu"ionary

.rac"ice an% "hus increase our .erce."ual 'no-le%ge an% accu$ula"e

.rac"ical e.erience) (u" i" $us" be .oin"e% ou", .erce."ual 'no-le%ge an% .rac"ical e.erience alone are no" sufficien") As *o$ra%e &ao De%ong has

sai%<

Fully "o reflec" a "hing in i"s "o"ali"y, "o reflec" i"s essence, "o reflec" i"s

inheri" la-s, i" is necessary "hrough "he eercise of "hough" "o recons"ruc"

"he rich %a"a of sense .erce."ion, %iscar%ing "he %ross an% selec"ing "he

essen"ial, eli$ina"ing "he false an% re"aining "he "rue, .rocee%ing fro$ "he

one "o "he o"her an% fro$ "he ou"si%e "o "he insi%e, in or%er "o for$ a

sys"e$ of conce."s an% "heories i" is necessary "o $a'e a lea. fro$ .erce."ual "o ra"ional 'no-le%ge)5

+herefore, -hile engage% in revolu"ionary .rac"ice, -e $us" $os"

conscien"iously s"u%y "he "heory an% $e"ho% of &aris$Leninis$)

+he "heory of &aris$Leninis$ is "he su$$ingu. of "he e.erience of "he in"erna"ional -or'ing class $ove$en"= i" is a "heory for$ula"e% in

revolu"ionary .rac"ice an% in "urn serving revolu"ionary .rac"ice) f only -e

s"u%y "his "heory, a..ly i" an% $as"er i" in close con>unc"ion -i"hrevolu"ionary .rac"ice, -e shall be able "o un%ers"an% "he inner connec"ions

of "he changes "a'ing .lace all aroun% us an% "o 'no- ho- an% in -ha"

%irec"ion "he various classes are no- $oving an% -ill soon $ove, an% -e

shall be able "o %e"er$ine our line of ac"ion an% shall confi%ence in "he fu"ureof "he revolu"ionary $ove$en")

" is .recisely because "he "heory of &aris$Leninis$ .lays such a grea"role "ha" Lenin sai%, O+he role of vanguar% figh"er can be fulfille% only by a .ar"y "ha" is gui%e% by "he $os" a%vance% "heory)O6 &e$bers of "he

*o$$unis" Par"y $us" closely lin' "heir s"u%y of "he "heory an% $e"ho% of









&aris$Leninis$ -i"h "heir o-n i%eological selfcul"iva"ion an% self

"e$.ering= "hey $us" never %ivorce one fro$ "he o"her)

+i$e an% again *o$ra%e &ao De%ong has e$.hasise% "he "re$en%ousi$.or"ance of cul"iva"ing oneself in "he "heory of &aris$Leninis$) #e has

sai%<

Fro$ "he &aris" vie-.oin", "heory is i$.or"an", an% i"s i$.or"ance is

fully e.resse% in Lenin5s s"a"e$en", O/i"hou" revolu"ionary "heory "here

can be no revolu"ionary $ove$en")O (u" &aris$ e$.hasises "hei$.or"ance of "heory .recisely an% only because i" can gui%e ac"ion)5

*o$ra%e &ao De%ong has cons"an"ly urge% all Par"y $e$bers -ho have

so$e ca.aci"y for s"u%y "o s"u%y &aris"Leninis" "heory, s"u%y "he ac"ualcon%i"ions of "he $ove$en", s"u%y *hinese an% -orl% his"ory an% learn "o

gui%e "heir ac"ions by &aris"Leninis" "heory an% also hel. "o e%uca"e

co$ra%es -i"h a lo-er cul"ural an% "heore"ical level) +he -hole Par"y shoul%a" "i$es bear in $in% "his in>unc"ion of *o$ra%e &ao De%ong5s)

1) +he Lugouqiao nci%en" is also 'no-n as "he nci%en" of July , 193)

Lugouqiao, over "en 'ilo$e"eres a-ay fro$ (ei>ing, is "he sou"h-es"ernga"e-ay "o "he ci"y) 7n July "h, 193, "he Ja.anese inva%ing forces a""ac'e%

"he *hinese garrison a" Lugouqiao) n fluence% by a vigorous na"ion-i%e

an"iJa.anese $ove$en" an% encourage% by "he *hinese *o$$unis" Par"y,"he *hinese "roo.s "here rallie% "o resis" Ja.an) +his inci%en" $ar'e% "he

beginning of "he *hinese .eo.le5s heroic -ar of resis"ance agains" Ja.an,-hich las"e% for eigh" years)

2) !arl &ar an% Fre%eric' 6ngels, Manifesto of the Communist

art$,6ng) e%), FLP, (ei>ing, 19, .) 9)

3) ) ) Lenin, What is !o "e %one& 6ng) e%), FLP, (ei>ing, 19, .) ) .)

12I

) I'id(, .) 100)

K) ≴7n Prac"ice≵, Selected works of Mao Zedong, 6ng) e%), FLP, (ei>ing,

19K) ol) , .) 303)

I) ) ) Lenin,What Is !o "e %one&


















V. The Cause of Communism is the Greatest and Most

Arduous Undertaking in Human History

No- le" us con"inue -i"h our %iscussion of i%eological selfcul"iva"ion by*o$$unis" Par"y $e$bers)

/ha" %oes i%eological selfcul"iva"ion $ean Fun%a$en"ally, in $y

o.inion, i" $eans "ha" every Par"y $e$ber shoul% use .role"arian i%eology "o

co$ba" -ha"ever non.role"arian i%eas he has, use "he co$$unis" -orl%ou"loo' he has an% use "he .rinci.le of "he su.re$acy of "he in"eres"s of "he

.role"aria", "he .eo.le an% "he Par"y "o co$ba" his in%ivi%ualis$)

+his s"ruggle is one of conflic"ing i%eologies, an% i" reflec"s "he classs"ruggle in socie"y) For a Par"y $e$ber, "he resul" of "his s"ruggle shoul% be

"ha" "he .role"arian i%eology overco$es an% ul"i$a"ely eli$ina"es any nonco$$unis" -orl% ou"loo' an% "ha" i%eas base% on "he general in"eres"s an%ai$s of "he Par"y, of "he revolu"ion an% of "he e$anci.a"ion of "he .role"aria"

an% all $an'in% overco$e an% ul"i$a"ely eli$ina"e all in%ivi%ualis$) f "he

o..osi"e ha..ens, "ha" is, if "he la""er .revails over "he for$er, "he co$ra%econcerne% -ill re"rogress an% $ay even loose his qualifica"ions as a $e$ber

of "he *o$$unis" Par"y) For a *o$$unis" "ha" -oul% be a "errible an%%angerous "hing "o ha..en)

/e *o$$unis" Par"y $e$bers "e$.er ourselves i%eologically in s"rugglesof all 'in%s insi%e an% ou"si%e "he Par"y, cons"an"ly su$ u. an% learn fro$

e.erience gaine% in revolu"ionary .rac"ice, an% ea$ine our o-n i%eas "osee -he"her "hey fully confor$ "o &aris$Leninis$ an% "he in"eres"s of "he

s"ruggle for "he e$anci.a"ion of "he .role"aria") " is "hrough such s"u%y,reflec"ion an% selfea$ina"ion "ha" -e eli$ina"e all re$nan"s of incorrec"

i%eas an% ni. in "he bu% any i%eas inconsis"en" -i"h "he in"eres"s of

co$$unis$)

As you 'no-, a $an5s -or%s an% ac"ions are gui%e% by his i%eology) An% a$an5s i%eology is inse.arable fro$ his -orl% ou"loo') +he only -orl%

ou"loo' for $e$bers of "he *o$$unis" Par"y is "he co$$unis" -orl%

ou"loo') +his -orl% ou"loo' is "he .hiloso.hical sys"e$ of "he .role"aria" an%also our co$$unis" $e"ho%ology)) All "his has been abun%an"ly %iscusse% in

&aris"Leninis" li"era"ure, an% es.ecially in "he .hiloso.hical -or's of "hefoun%ers) As you have s"u%ie% i", shall no" go in"o i" "o%ay) #ere shall only



"al' briefly of our co$$unis" cause, of -ha" i" is an% ho- Par"y $e$bers

shoul% a%vance i")

/ha" is our $os" fun%a$en"al %u"y as Par"y $e$bers " is "o achieveco$$unis$) As far as "he *o$$unis" Par"ies of %ifferen" coun"ries are

concerne%, in each coun"ry i" is for "he *o$$unis" Par"y an% "he .eo.le "here

"o "ransfor$ i" by "heir o-n effor"s, an% in "ha" -ay "he -hole -orl% -ill be"ransfor$e% s"e. by s"e. in"o a co$$unis" -orl%) /ill "he co$$unis" -orl%

be goo% /e all 'no- i" -ill be) n "ha" -orl% "here -ill be no e.loi"ers of

o..ressors, no lan%lor%s an% ca.i"alis"s, no i$.erialis"s an% fascis"s, nor -ill"here be any o..resse% an% e.loi"e% .eo.le, or any of "he %ar'ness,

ignorance an% bac'-ar%ness resul"ing fro$ "he sys"e$ of e.loi"a"ion) n

such a socie"y "he .ro%uc"ion of bo"h $a"erial an% $oral values -ill %evelo.an% flourish $igh"ily an% -ill $ee" "he varie% nee%s of all i"s $e$bers) (y

"hen all hu$ani"y -ill consis" of unselfish, in"elligen", highly cul"ure% an%

s'ille% co$$unis" -or'ers= $u"ual assis"ance an% affec"ion -ill .revaila$ong $en an% "here -ill be no such irra"ionali"ies as $u"ual sus.icion an%

%ece."ion, $u"ual in>ury, $u"ual slaugh"er an% -ar) " -ill of course be "he bes", "he $os" beau"iful an% "he $os" a%vance% socie"y in hu$an his"ory)

/ho can %eny "ha" such a socie"y is goo% (u" can "his goo% co$$unis"

socie"y be buil" /e say "ha" i" can an% -ill be) &aris"Leninis" "heory hase.laine% "his scien"ifically an% beyon% all %oub") A fac"ual "es"i$ony has

been .rovi%e% by "he vic"ory of "he 4rea" 7c"ober revolu"ion an% "he

successes in socialis" cons"ruc"ion in "he Sovie" nion) 7ur %u"y is cons"an"ly"o a%vance "he cause socialis$ an% co$$unis$ in accor%ance -i"h "he la-s

of %evelo.$en" of hu$an socie"y, so as "o $a'e socialis" an% co$$unis"

socie"y a reali"y as soon as .ossible) +his is our i%eal)

#o-ever, "he cause of socialis$ an% co$$unis$ s"ill faces .o-erful

ene$ies -ho $us" be "horoughly an% finally %efea"e% in every fiel%= only

"hen -ill "he socialis" an% co$$unis" socie"y be brough" in"o being) ic"oryfor "he co$$unis" cause can only be -on "hrough long an% ar%uous s"ruggle)

/i"hou" i" "here can be no vic"ory) +his s"ruggle, of course, is no" anOacci%en"alO social .heno$enon or an inven"ion of cer"ain *o$$unis"s asso$e .eo.le asser") " is inevi"able in "he %evelo.$en" of class socie"y= i" is

unavoi%able class s"ruggle) +he bir"h of "he *o$$unis" Par"y an% "he fac"

"ha" *o$$unis"s .ar"ici.a"e, organi:e an% gui%e "his s"ruggle are alsoinevi"able .heno$ena confor$ing -i"h "he la-s of social %evelo.$en") +he

i$.erialis"s, fascis"s an% lan%lor%s in shor", all e.loi"ers an% o..ressors

are o..ressing an% e.loi"ing "he over-hel$ing $a>ori"y of "he .eo.le of "he



-orl% "o such an e"en" "ha" "he .eo.le are har%ly able "o survive an% have "o

uni"e an% figh" agains" "his e.loi"a"ion an% o..ression, because "hey canno"

eis", $uch less $a'e .rogress in any o"her -ay) +his s"ruggle, "herefore, isna"ural an% unavoi%able)

7n "he one han%, -e $us" un%ers"an% "ha" co$$unis$ is "he grea"es"

cause in hu$an his"ory, -hich -ill eli$ina"e e.loi"a"ion an% classes oncean% for all, e$anci.a"e $an'in% an% bring hu$ani"y in"o a -orl% of

ha..iness, ra%ia"ing -i"h beau"y, such as i" has never 'no-n before) (u" on

"he o"her han%, -e $us" also un%ers"an% "ha" "he cause of co$$unis$ is "he$os" ar%uous un%er"a'ing in all his"ory= "ha" only "hrough .ro"rac"e%, bi""er

an% "or"urous s"ruggle -ill -e be able "o %efea" all "he e.loi"ing classes= an%

"ha" for a long "i$e af"er our vic"ory -e shall .a"ien"ly have "o carry ou"social an% econo$ic, i%eological an% cul"ural "ransfor$a"ion, for only "hus

-ill all "he influences, conven"ions an% habi"s of "he e.loi"ing classes be

eli$ina"e% fro$ a$ong "he .eo.le, an% only "hus -ill a ne- social an%econo$ic sys"e$, a ne- co$$unis" cul"ure an% co%e of social $orali"y be

buil" u.)

+he *o$$unis" Par"y -ill %efian"ly -in final vic"ory by relying on "he .role"aria" an% "he $asses of "he e.loi"e% an% o..resse% .eo.le an by using

&aris$Leninis$ "o gui%e "he revolu"ionary s"ruggle of "he $asses an%

.ro.el socie"y "o-ar%s "he grea" goal of co$$unis$) +he reason is "ha" "he

his"orical la-s of social %evelo.$en" $a'e "he .rogress of hu$an socie"y"o-ar%s co$$unis$ inevi"able= "ha" la"en" in "he .role"aria" an% "he o"her

e.loi"e% an% o..resse% $asses of "he -orl% lie e"re$ely .o-erfulrevolu"ionary energies -hich, once $obili:e%, uni"e% an% organi:e%, can

"riu$.h over all "he reac"ionary forces of "he e.loi"ing classes an%i$.erialis$= an% "ha" "he *o$$unis" Par"y an% "he .role"aria" are "he ne-

an% rising forces an% -ha"ever is ne- an% rising is invincible) +his has been

fully %e$ons"ra"e% by "he his"ory of "he -orl% co$$unis" $ove$en" an% "he*hinese *o$$unis" Par"y) +he .resen" si"ua"ion is as follo-s) Socialis$ has

alrea%y -on a grea" vic"ory in "he Sovie" nion, or on one si"h of "he ear"h5ssurface= $ili"an" *o$$unis" Par"ies ar$e% -i"h "he "heory of &aris$Leninis$ have been organi:e% in $any coun"ries= "he -orl% co$$unis"

$ove$en" is ra.i%ly gro-ing an% %evelo.ing= an% "he forces of "he

.role"aria" an% "he o"her e.loi"e% an% o..resse% $asses of "he -orl% are being ra.i%ly $obili:e% an% uni"e% in "he course of incessan" s"ruggles) +he

co$$unis" $ove$en" is alrea%y organi:e% as a $igh"y an% invincible -orl%

force) (eyon% all %oub" "he co$$unis" cause -ill con"inue "o %evelo. an%



a%vance, an% -ill -in final an% co$.le"e vic"ory) #o-ever, -e shoul% also

reali:e "ha" "he in"erna"ional reac"ion an% "he e.loi"ing classes are ye"

s"ronger "han -e are, "ha" "hey are "e$.orarily su.erior in $any fiel%s an%"ha" only by .ro"rac"e%, "or"urous an% bi""er s"ruggles can -e %efea" "he$)

n a socie"y in -hich .riva"e o-nershi. of "he $eans of .ro%uc"ion has

eis"e% for "housan%s of years, "he e.loi"ing classes "hrough "heir rule have buil" u. grea" .o-er in all fiel%s an% have grabbe% every"hing un%er "he sun)

+heir long rule has given rise "o bac'-ar%ness, ignorance, selfishness,

$u"ual sus.icion an% %ece."ion, $u"ual in>ury an% slaugh"er in hu$ansocie"y, -hich have .ersis"e% %o-n "he ages) " has eer"e% a $os" .ernicious

influence on "he e.loi"e% $asses an% on o"her $e$bers of socie"y) +his is

"he inevi"able resul" of "he effor"s of "he e.loi"ing classes "o .reserve "heir class in"eres"s an% rule) For "hey canno" $ain"ain "heir ruling .osi"ion unless

"hey 'ee. "he e.loi"e% $asses an% "he colonial .eo.les bac'-ar%,

unorgani:e% an% %ivi%e%) #ence, in or%er "o achieve vic"ory -e $us" no"only con%uc" a s"ern s"ruggle agains" "he e.loi"ing classes bu" also carry on a

s"ruggle agains" "heir longs"an%ing influence a$ong "he $asses an% "he bac'-ar% i%eas an% o"her bac'-ar% .heno$ena foun% a$ong "he $asses, for

only "hus can -e enhance "heir .oli"ical consciousness an% uni"e "he$ "o

%efea" "he e.loi"ing classes) #ere is "he %ifficul"y in "he course of achievingco$$unis$) *o$ra%es f "he $asses -ere all .oli"ically conscious, uni"e%,

free fro$ "he influence of "he e.loi"ing classes an% free fro$ bac'-ar%ness,

as so$e .eo.le i$agine "he$ "o be, -ha" -oul% be so %ifficul" abou" "herevolu"ion

No" only %oes "his influence of "he e.loi"ing classes eis" before "he

vic"ory of "he revolu"ion, bu" i" survives for a very long "i$e af"er -hen "hee.loi"ing classes have been e>ec"e% fro$ "heir ruling .osi"ion) +hin' ho-

"or"urous is "he .rocess an% ho- ar%uous are "he -or' an% s"ruggle "ha" are

nee%e% "o vanquish "he e.loi"ing classes an% "heir influence a$ong "he .eo.le once an% for all, "o e$anci.a"e an% change all $an'in%, "o "ransfor$

$yria%s of s$all co$$o%i"y .ro%ucers, finally "o abolish all classes an%gra%ually "o "ransfor$ $an'in% "ha" has live% in class socie"y for "housan%sof years an% been influence% by all 'in%s of ol% cus"o$s an% conven"ions

un"il i" beco$es co$$unis" $an'in%, in"elligen" an% unselfish, an% -i"h a

high level of cul"ure an% s'ill

Lenin sai%<



+he aboli"ion of classes $eans no" only %riving ou" lan%lor%s an%

ca.i"alis"s "ha" -e acco$.lishe% -i"h co$.ara"ive ease i" also $eans

abolishing "he s$all co$$o%i"y .ro%ucers, an% "hey canno" be %riven ou",

or crushe%= -e $us" live in har$ony -i"h "he$= "hey can ?an% $us"@ be

re$oul%e% an% ree%uca"e% only by very .rolonge%, slo-, cau"ious

organi:a"ional -or') +hey encircle "he .role"aria" on every si%e -i"h a

.e""ybourgeois a"$os.here, -hich .er$ea"es an% corru."s "he .role"aria"

an% causes cons"an" rela.ses a$ong "he .role"aria" in"o .e""ybourgeois

s.inelessness, %isuni"y, in%ivi%ualis$, al"erna"e $oo%s of eal"a"ion an%%e>ec"ion) +he s"ric"es" cen"rali:a"ion an% %isci.line are require% -i"hin "he

.oli"ical .ar"y of "he .role"aria" in or%er "o coun"erac" "his, in or%er "ha" "he

organi:a"ional role of "he .role"aria" ?an% "ha" is i"s .rinci.le role@ $ay be

eercise% correc"ly, successfully, vic"oriously))))+he force of habi" of

$illions an% "ens of $illions is a $os" "errible force))))" is a "housan%

"i$es easier "o vanquish "he cen"rali:e% big bourgeoisie "han "o OvanquishO

"he $illions an% $illions of s$all o-ners= ye" "hey, by "heir or%inary,

every%ay, i$.erce."ible, elusive, %e$orali:ing ac"ivi"y, achieve "he very

resul"s -hich "he bourgeoisie nee% an% -hich "en% "o res"ore "he bourgeoisie)1

#e also sai%<

)))"he bourgeoisie, -hose resis"ance is increase% "enfol% by i"s

over"hro- ?even if only in one coun"ry@, an% -hose .o-er lies no" only in

"he s"reng"h of in"erna"ional ca.i"al, in "he s"reng"h an% %urabili"y of "he

in"erna"ional connec"ions of "he bourgeoisie, bu" also in "he force of habi",

in "he s"reng"h of s$all .ro%uc"ion) For all "hese reasons "he %ic"a"orshi.

of "he .role"aria" is essen"ial, an% vic"ory over "he bourgeoisie is

i$.ossible -i"hou" a long, s"ubborn an% -ar of life an% %ea"h, a -ar

%e$an%ing .erseverance, %isci.line, fir$ness, in%o$i"ableness an% uni"y

of -ill)

2

#ence "he .role"aria" has a very %ifficul" "as' "o .erfor$ even af"er "he

vic"ory of "he revolu"ion) +he .role"arian revolu"ion %iffers fro$ all o"her revolu"ions in his"ory) (ourgeois revolu"ions, for ea$.le, are largely

co$.le"e% -i"h "he sei:ure of s"a"e .o-er) (u" for "he .role"aria", vic"ory an%

.oli"ical e$anci.a"ion are only "he beginning of "he revolu"ion, an% a"re$en%ous a$oun" of -or' re$ains "o be %one af"er "he vic"ory, af"er "he

sei:ure of s"a"e .o-er)

+he cause of co$$unis$ is nee%e% a Ohun%re% years5 "as'O, as "he sayinggoes, an% i" %efian"ly canno" be acco$.lishe% a" one s"ro'e) n %ifferen"

coun"ries "his un%er"a'ing has "o go "hrough %ifferen" s"ages, an% %ifferen"

ene$ies $us" be %efea"e%, before a co$$unis" socie"y can gra%ually bees"ablishe%) +a'e "he case of our o-n coun"ry) *hina is s"ill in "he s"age of "he

bourgeois%e$ocra"ic revolu"ion, an% our ene$ies are i$.erialis$, -hich

.er.e"ua"es aggression agains" *hina, an% "he feu%al an% co$.ra%or forces,







-hich are in collusion -i"h i$.erialis$) 7nly -hen -e have %efea"e% "hese

ene$ies can -e co$.le"e "he bourgeois%e$ocra"ic revolu"ion in our

coun"ry) +hen, af"er "he vic"ory of "he bourgeois%e$ocra"ic revolu"ion, i"-ill s"ill be necessary "o $a'e "he socialis" revolu"ion an% "o carry on

socialis" "ransfor$a"ion an% socialis" cons"ruc"ion for a long .erio%, an% only

so -ill "he gra%ual "ransi"ion "o co$$unis" socie"y be .ossible)

Since "he ul"i$a"e goal of our s"ruggle is "he achieve$en" of co$$unis$,

i" is na"urally our %u"y as *o$$unis"s "o overco$es all "he %ifficul"ies

arising in "he .rocess)

Since "he co$$unis" cause is so grea" an% ar%uous an un%er"a'ing, so$e

.eo.le -ho see' social .rogress are s"ill sce."ical an% no" convince% "ha"

co$$unis$ can be reali:e%) +hey %o no" believe "ha" un%er "he lea%ershi. of "he .role"aria" an% i"s .ar"y "he hu$an race can %evelo. an% "ransfor$ i"self

in"o a co$$unis" $an'in% of "he highes" quali"y an% "ha" all "he %ifficul"iesin "he .rocess of revolu"ion an% cons"ruc"ion can be overco$e) 6i"her "hey %ono" forsee "he %ifficul"ies or "hey beco$e .essi$is"ic an% %isa..oin"e% -hen

confron"e% -i"h "he$, an% "here are even Par"y $e$bers -ho -aver an%

%eser" "he co$$unis" ran's)

/e co$$unis"s shoul% be $en of "he bol%es" vision an% revolu"ionary

%e"er$ina"ion) 6very Par"y $e$ber shoul% gla%ly an% sole$nly shoul%er "he

"as' of reali:ing co$$unis$, a "as' grea"er an% $ore ar%uous "han any inhu$an his"ory) /e clearly see "he %ifficul"ies in "he .rocess of realising

co$$unis$, bu" a" "he sa$e "i$e -e clearly un%ers"an% "ha" "hey ca$

un%oub"e%ly be overco$e by arousing $illions of .eo.le "o "he revolu"ionaryac"ion, an% no %ifficul"ies -ill ever %aun" us) /e have "he $asses of "he

.eo.le "o rely on, an% -e have full confi%ence "ha" a subs"an"ial .ar" of "he

-or' of buil%ing co$$unis$ -ill be acco$.lishe% in our "o-n "i$e an% "ha""he -hole of "his $agnificen" un%er"a'ing -ill be "riu$.han"ly co$.le"e% by

"he co$ing genera"ions) +he heroes of no o"her class in his"ory coul%

.ossibly have ha% "his grea" co$$unis" i%eal an% bol%ness of vision) n "hisres.ec" -e have every reason for .ri%e)

recall "he ins"ance of "he -es"ern 6uro.ean bourgeois biogra.her 3 -ho

in"ervie-e% *o$ra%e S"alin %uring a visi" "o "he Sovie" nion an% brough" u."he co$.arisons be"-een his"orical .ersonali"ies) *o$ra%e S"alin "ol% hi$

"ha" Lenin -as li'e "he ocean -hile *:ar Pe"er "he 4rea" -as only a %ro. in

"he ocean) Such is "he .lace in his"ory a .role"arian lea%er of "he co$$unis"





cause occu.ies, co$.are% -i"h "ha" of a lea%er in "he cause of "he lan%lor%

an% "he rising $ercan"ile classes) Fro$ "his co$.arison -e can see ho- "ruly

grea" is a lea%er -ho figh"s for "he "riu$.h of co$$unis$ an% "he cause of "he e$anci.a"ion of $an'in% an% ho- .al"ry is one -ho figh"s for "he cause

of "he e.loi"ing classes)

/e *o$$unis" Par"y $e$bers $us" have "he highes" goals in our s"rugglean% "he highes" i%eals, -hile a" "he sa$e "i$e -e $us" have a .rac"ical s.iri"

an% %o real .rac"ical -or') Such are "he charac"eris"ics %is"inguishing us as

*o$$unis"s) f all a .erson has is grea" an% lof"y i%eas -i"hou" having a .rac"ical s.iri" or %oing real .rac"ical -or', he is no" a goo% Par"y $e$ber

bu" only a %rea$er, a .ra""ler or a .e%an") 7n "he o"her han%, -hoever is

in"eres"e% only in .rac"ical -or' bu" lac's grea" an% lof"y co$$unis" i%eals isno" a goo% *o$$unis" ei"her, bu" >us" a rou"ine .lo%%er) 7nly by co$bining

"he grea" an% lof"y i%eals of co$$unis$ -i"h real .rac"ical -or' an%

.rac"ical s.iri" can one be a goo% *o$$unis") +his s"an%ar% for a goo%*o$$unis" has of"en been s"resse% by *o$ra%e &ao De%ong, "he lea%er of

our Par"y)

+he co$$unis" i%eal is beau"iful, -hile "he reali"y of "he eis"ing ca.i"alis"-orl% is ugly) +his is .recisely -hy "he over-hel$ing $a>ori"y of "he .eo.le

%e$an% "he changing of "ha" reali"y an% -hy i" $us" be change%) n or%er "o

change "he -orl% -e $us" no" %ivorce ourselves fro$ reali"y, %isregar% i" or

esca.e fro$ i", nor $us" -e surren%er "o ugly reali"y) /e $us" face reali"ysquarely, s"u%y an% un%ers"an% i", live an% gro- in i", figh" agains" "he ugly

reali"y an% "ransfor$ i", so "ha" -e can gra%ually reali:e our i%eal) #ence -e$e$bers of "he co$$unis" Par"y $us" ini"ia"e an% .ress ahea% -i"h our grea"

co$$unis" "as' of changing "he -orl%, beginning -i"h our i$$e%ia"esurroun%ings, -i"h "he .eo.le i$$e%ia"ely aroun% us an% such -or' as -e

can i$$e%ia"ely un%er"a'e) #ere -e shoul% cri"ici:e "hose young co$ra%es

-ho frequen"ly $a'e "he $is"a'e of -an"ing "o esca.e fro$ or %isregar%ingreali"y) " is goo% "ha" "hey have lof"y i%eals, bu" "hey of"en co$.lain abou"

"heir .lace of -or' an% "he 'in% of -or' "hey are given) +hey are al-aysloo'ing for so$e Oi%ealO .lace or >ob so "ha" "hey can Ochange "he -orl%O-i"h ease) (u" no such .lace an% no such >ob eis", ece." in "heir %rea$s)

+he cause of co$$unis$ is our life -or') +hroughou" our lives, our every

ac"ivi"y is eclusively %evo"e% "o i" an% "o no"hing else)



1) ) ) Lenin,≴ Left)Wing ≵ Communism, and Infantile %isorder, 6ng) e%),

FLP, (ei>ing, 19K, ..) 3233)

2) I'id, ..) KI)

3) 6$il Lu%-ig ?1119@, a 4er$an -ri"er, $e" S"alin -hile visi"ing

"he Sovie" nion in Eece$ber 1931) See J)) S"alin,≴

+al' -i"h "he 4er$anAu"hor 6$il Lu%-ig≵,Works, 6ng) e%), FLP#, &osco-, 19KK, ol) 8, .)

10)

VI. A Party Member's Personal Interests Must be

Unconditionally Subordinated to the Interests of the Party

Personal in"eres"s $us" be subor%ina"e% "o "he Par"y5s in"eres"s, "he in"eres"sof "he local Par"y organi:a"ion "o "hose of "he en"ire Par"y, "he in"eres"s of "he

.ar" "o "hose of "he -hole, an% "e$.orary "o long"er$ in"eres"s) +his is a

&aris"Leninis" .rinci.le -hich $us" be follo-e% by every *o$$unis")

A *o$$unis" $us" be clear abou" "he correc" rela"ionshi. be"-een .ersonal an% Par"y in"eres"s)

+he *o$$unis" Par"y is "he .oli"ical .ar"y of "he .role"aria" an% has no

in"eres"s of i"s o-n o"her "han "hose of "he e$anci.a"ion of "he .role"aria")

+he final e$anci.a"ion of "he .role"aria" -ill also inevi"ably be "he finale$anci.a"ion of all $an'in%) nless "he .role"aria" e$anci.a"es all -or'ing

.eo.le an% all na"ions unless i" e$anci.a"es $an'in% as a -hole i" canno"fully e$anci.a"e i"self) +he cause of "he e$anci.a"ion of "he .role"aria" is

i%en"ical -i"h an% inse.arable fro$ "he cause of "he e$anci.a"ion of all

-or'ing .eo.le, all o..resse% na"ions an% all $an'in%) +herefore, "hein"eres"s of "he *o$$unis" Par"y are "he e$anci.a"ion of "he .role"aria" an%

all $an'in%, are co$$unis$ an% social .rogress)) /hen a Par"y $e$ber55s .ersonal in"eres"s are subor%ina"e% "o "hose of "he Par"y, "hey are

subor%ina"e% "o "he in"eres"s of "he e$anci.a"ion of "he class an% "he na"ion,an% "hose of co$$unis$ an% social .rogress)


A" no "i$e an% in no circu$s"ances shoul% a *o$$unis" .lace his

.ersonal in"eres"s firs"= he shoul% subor%ina"e "o "he in"eres"s of "he na"ion

an% of "he $asses) #ence selfishness, slac'ing, corru."ion, see'ing "he

li$eligh" are $os" con"e$."ible, -hile selflessness, -or'ing -i"h all one5s









energy, -hole hear"e% %evo"ion "o .ublic %u"y, an% quie" har% -or' -illco$$an% res.ec")1

+he "es" of a Par"y $e$ber5s loyal"y "o "he Par"y, "he revolu"ion, "he cause

of co$$unis$ is -he"her or no" he can subor%ina"e his .ersonal in"eres"s

absolu"ely an% uncon%i"ionally "o "he in"eres"s of "he Par"y -ha"ever "hecircu$s"ances)

A" all "i$es an% all ques"ions a .ar"y $e$ber shoul% give firs"

consi%era"ion "o "he in"eres"s of "he Par"y as a -hole an% .u" "he$ in "he

fore$os" an% .lace .ersonal $a""ers an% in"eres"s secon%) +he su.re$acy of "he Par"y5s in"eres"s is "he highes" .rinci.le "ha" $us" govern "he "hin'ing an%

ac"ions of "he $e$bers of our Par"y) n accor%ance -i"h "his .rinci.le, everyPar"y $e$ber $us" co$.le"ely i%en"ify his .ersonal in"eres"s -i"h "hose of

"he Par"y bo"h in his "hin'ing an% in his ac"ions of "he $e$bers of our Par"y

bo"h in his "hin'ing an% in his ac"ions) #e $us" be able o yiel% "o "he in"eres"sof "he Par"y -i"hou" any hesi"a"ions or reluc"ance an% sacrifice his .ersonal

in"eres"s -ha" ever of "he "-o are a" variance) nhesi"a"ing rea%iness "o

sacrifice .ersonal in"eres"s an% even one5s life, for "he Par"y an% for "he .role"aria" an% for "he e$anci.a"ion of "he na"ion an% of all $an'in% "his is

one e.ression of -ha" -e usually %escribe as OPar"y s.iri"O, OPar"y senseO or

Osense of organi:a"ion5) " is "he highes" e.ression of co$$unis" $orali"y, of "he .rinci.le% na"ure of "he .ar"y of "he .role"aria" an% of "he .ures"

.role"arian class consciousness)

&e$bers of our Par"y shoul% no" have .ersonal ai$s -hich arein%e.en%en" of "he Par"y in"eres"s) +heir .ersonal ai$s $us" har$oni:e -i"h

"he Par"y5s in"eres"s) f "he ai$ "hey se" for "he$selves is "o s"u%y &aris"

Leninis" "heory, "o %evelo. "heir abili"y in -or', "o es"ablish revolu"ionaryorgani:a"ions an% "o lea% "he $asses in successful revolu"ionary s"ruggles if

"heir ai$ is $ore is "o %o $ore for "he Par"y "hen "his .ersonal ai$

har$oni:es -i"h "he in"eres"s of "he Par"y) +he Par"y nee%s $any such$e$bers an% ca%res) A.ar" fro$ "his ai$, Par"y $e$bers shoul% have no

in%e.en%en" .ersonal $o"ives such as a""aining .osi"ion of fa$e, or .laying

"he in%ivi%ual hero= o"her-ise "hey -ill %e.ar" fro$ "he in"eres"s of "he Par"yan% $ay even beco$e careeris"s -i"hin "he Par"y)

f a Par"y $e$ber "hin's only of "he co$$unis" in"eres"s an% ai$s of "he

Par"y, is really selfless an% has no .ersonal ai$s an% consi%era"ions %ivorce%fro$ "hose of "he Par"y, an% he ceaselessly raises "he level of his .oli"ical





consciousness "hrough revolu"ionary .rac"ice an% "hrough "he s"u%y of

&aris$Leninis$, "hen "he follo-ing ensues)

Firs", he has a high co$$unis" $orali"y) +a'ing a clearcu", fir$ .role"arian s"an%, he is able "o sho- loyal"y "o an% love for all co$ra%es, all

revolu"ionaries an% -or'ing .eo.le, hel. "he$ unreserve%ly an% ac" "o-ar%s

"he$ as equals, an% he -ill never allo- hi$self "o hur" a single one of "he$for his o-n in"eres"s) #e is able "o feel for o"hers, .lace hi$self in "heir

.osi"ion an% be consi%era"e of "he$) 7n "he o"her han%, he is able "o -age

resolu"e s"ruggle agains" "he .ernicious ene$ies of $an'in% an% .ersevere in"he figh" for "he in"eres"s of "he Par"y, "he .role"aria" an% "he e$anci.a"ion of

"he na"ion an% all $an'in%) O#e is "he firs" "o -orry an% "he las" "o en>oyhi$selfO)2 /he"her in "he Par"y of a$ong "he .eo.le, he is "he firs" "o suffer

har%shi. an% "he las" "o en>oy co$for"= he co$.ares hi$self -i"h o"hers no"

-i"h res.ec" "o "he $a"erial en>oy$en" bu" "o "he a$oun" of -or' %one for "he

revolu"ion an% "he s.iri" of har% en%urance in "he s"ruggle) n "i$es of a%versi"y he s"e.s for-ar% bol%ly, an% in "i$es of %ifficul"y he %oes his %u"y

"o "he full) #e has such revolu"ionary fir$ness an% in"egri"y "ha" Onei"her riches nor honours can corru." hi$, nei"her .over"y nor lo-ly con%i"ion can$a'e hi$ s-erve fro$ .rinci.le, nei"her "hrea"s nor force can ben% hi$O)3

Secon%, he has "he grea"es" revolu"ionary courage) #aving no selfish

$o"ives, he has no"hing "o fear) #aving %one no"hing "o give hi$self a guil"y

conscience, he can lay bare an% courageously correc" his $is"a'es an% shor"co$ings, -hich are li'e Oan ecli.se of "he sun or "he $oonO) 4 (ecause he has

"he courage of righ"eous convic"ion, he never fears "he "ru"h, courageouslyu.hol%s i", s.rea%s i" an% figh"s for i") 6ven if i" is "e$.orarily "o his

%isa%van"age an% if, in u.hol%ing "he "ru"h, he suffers blo-s of all 'in%s, iscensure% by $os" o"her .eo.le an% so fin%s hi$self in "e$.orary ?an%

honourable@ isola"ion, even "o "he .oin" -here he $ay give u. his life, he -ill

s"ill breas" "he -aves "o u.hol% "he "ru"h an% -ill never %rif" -i"h "he "i%e)

+hir%, he learns ho- bes" "o gras. "he "heory of &aris$Leninis$) #e isable "o a..ly "he$ in 'eenly observing .roble$s an% in 'no-ing an%

changing reali"y) (ecause he "a'es a clearcu", fir$ .role"arian s"an% an% is

"e$.ere% in &aris$Leninis$, he is free fro$ .ersonal a..rehensions an%selfin"eres", so "ha" "here is no i$.e%i$en" "o his observa"ion of "hings or

%is"or"ion of his un%ers"an%ing of "he "ru"h) #e see's "he "ru"h fro$ "he fac"s,an% he "es"s all "heories an% %is"inguishes -ha" is "rue fro$ -ha" is false in

revolu"ionary .rac"ice)









Four"h, he is "he $os" sincere, $os" can%i% an% ha..ies" of $en) (ecause

he has no .riva"e ae "o grin%, no"hing "o conceal fro$ "he Par"y an% no"hing

he canno" "ell o"hers, he has no .roble$s of .ersonal gain or loss an% no .ersonal anie"ies o"her "han for "he in"eres"s of "he Par"y an% "he revolu"ion)

6ven -hen he is -or'ing on his o-n -i"hou" su.ervision an% "herefore has

"he o..or"uni"y "o %o so$e"hing ba%, he is >us" as O-a"chful over hi$self

-hen he is aloneO5

an% %oes no" %o any"hing har$ful) #is -or' bearsea$ina"ion an% he is no" afrai% having i" chec'e%) #e %oes no" fear cri"icis$

an% a" "he sa$e "i$e is able "o cri"ici:e o"hers -i"h courage an% sinceri"y)

Fif"h, he has "he grea"es" selfres.ec" an% selfes"ee$) For "he sa'e of "he

Par"y an% "he revolu"ion he can be $os" forbearing an% "oleran" "o-ar%s

co$ra%es an% can suffer -rong in "he general in"eres", even en%uring$isun%ers"an%ing an% hu$ilia"ion -i"hou" bi""erness if "he occasion so

%e$an%s) No .ersonal ai$s lea% hi$ "o fla""er anyone or "o %esire fla""ery

fro$ o"hers) /hen i" co$es "o .ersonal $a""ers, he 'no-s ho- "o con%uc"hi$self an% has no nee% "o hu$ble hi$self in or%er "o ge" hel. fro$ o"hers)

#e 'no-s ho- "o "a'e goo% care of hi$self in "he in"eres"s of "he Par"y an%"he revolu"ion an% ho- "o s"reng"hen bo"h his gras. of "heory an% his

.rac"ical effec"iveness) (u" -hen i" is necessary "o s-allo- hu$ilia"ions an%

bear a heavy loa% for so$e i$.or"an" .ur.ose in "he cause of "he Par"y an%"he revolu"ion, he can "a'e on "he $os" %ifficul" an% vi"al "as's -i"hou" "he

sligh"es" reluc"ance, never .assing "he %ifficul"ies "o o"hers)

A $e$ber of "he *o$$unis" Par"y shoul% .ossess "he fines" an% highes"

hu$an vir"ues an% "a'e a clearcu" an% fir$ Par"y an% .role"arian s"an% ?"ha"is, .ossess Par"y s.iri" an% class s.iri"@) 7urs is a fine $orali"y .recisely

because i" is .role"arian an% co$$unis") " is foun%e% no" on "he .ro"ec"ion of "he in"eres"s of in%ivi%uals or of "he e.loi"ing fe-, bu" on "hose of "he grea"

.role"aria" an% "he grea" $ass of -or'ing .eo.le, of "he cause of "he final

e$anci.a"ion of all $an'in%, an% "he libera"ion of "he -hole -orl% fro$ "hecala$i"ies of ca.i"alis$, an% "he buil%ing of a ha..y an% beau"iful

co$$unis" -orl% " is a $orali"y foun%e% on "he &aris"Leninis" "heory of scien"ific co$$unis$) As -e *o$$unis"s see i", no"hing can be $ore-or"hless or in%efensible "han "o sacrifice oneself in "he in"eres"s of an

in%ivi%ual or a s$all $inori"y) (u" i" is "he -or"hies" an% $os" >us" "hing in

"he -orl% "o sacrifice oneself for "he Par"y, for "he .role"aria", for "hee$anci.a"ion of "he na"ion an% all $an'in%, for social .rogress an% for "he

highes" in"eres"s of "he over-hel$ing $a>ori"y of "he .eo.le) n%ee%,

coun"less $e$bers of "he *o$$unis" Par"y have loo'e% %ea"h cal$ly in "he





face an% $a%e "he ul"i$a"e sacrifice -i"hou" "he sligh"es" hesi"a"ion) &os"

*o$$unis"s consi%er i" a $a""er of course "o %ie for "he sa'e of "he cause, "o

lay %o-n "heir lives for >us"ice, -hen "ha" is necessary) +his %oes no" s"e$fro$ any revolu"ionary fana"icis$ or hunger for fa$e bu" fro$ "heir

scien"ific un%ers"an%ing of social %evelo.$en" an% "heir %ee. .oli"ical

consciousness) +here is no $orali"y in class socie"y "o co$.are -i"h "his high

co$$unis" $orali"y) +he universal $orali"y -hich su..ose%ly "ranscen%sclass is sheer %ece."ive nonsense an% in fac" a $orali"y %esigne% "o .ro"ec"

"he in"eres"s of "he e.loi"ing fe-) Such a conce." of $orali"y is al-aysi%ealis") " is only -e co$$unis"s -ho buil% our $orali"y on "he scien"ific

basis of his"orical $a"erialis$ an% .roclai$ i"s .ur.ose "o be "he .ro"ec"ionof "he in"eres"s of "he .role"aria" in "he s"ruggle for "he e$anci.a"ion of i"self

an% all $an'in%)

+he *o$$unis" Par"y re.resen"s "he general an% longrange in"eres"s of "he

.role"aria" an% all $an'in% in "heir s"ruggle for e$anci.a"ion= "he Par"y5sin"eres"s are "he concen"ra"e% e.ression of "his cause) 7ne $us" never regar%

"he co$$unis" Par"y as a narro- clique, li'e "he guil% .erusing "he in"eres"sof i"s $e$bers) Anyone -ho %oes so is no *o$$unis")

A Par"y $e$ber has in"eres"s of his o-n, -hich $ay be inconsis"en" -i"h

or even run coun"er "o "he in"eres"s of "he Par"y in cer"ain circu$s"ances)

Shoul% "his ha..en, i" is incu$ben" on hi$ "o sacrifice his .ersonal in"eres"s

an% uncon%i"ionally subor%ina"e "he$ "o "he in"eres"s of "he Par"y= un%er no .re"ence or ecuse $ay he sacrifice "he Par"y5s in"eres"s by clinging "o his

o-n) A" all "i$es an% in all circu$s"ances, he shoul% figh" hear" an% soul for "he Par"y5s in"eres"s an% for "he Par"y5s %evelo.$en", regar%ing every success

an% vic"ory -on by "he Par"y an% "he .role"aria" as his very o-n) 6very Par"y$e$ber shoul% s"rive "o increase his effec"iveness an% abili"y in "he service

of "he .eo.le) (u" "his $us" be %one in "he figh" for "he a%vance$en", success

an% vic"ory of "he Par"y5s cause, an% "here $us" be no s"riving for in%ivi%ual%evelo.$en" %ivorce% fro$ "he figh" "o a%vance "he Par"y5s cause) +he fac"s

.rove "ha" only by co$.le"e %evo"ion in "he figh" for "he a%vance$en",success an% vic"ory of "he Par"y5s cause can a Par"y $e$ber heigh"en hiseffec"iveness an% abili"y an% "ha" he canno" .ossibly $a'e .rogress of

heigh"en his abili"y in any o"her -ay) #ence a Par"y $e$ber can an% $us"

co$.le"ely $erge his .ersonal in"eres"s -i"h "hose of "he Par"y)

&e$bers of our Par"y are no or%inary .eo.le bu" "he a-a'ene% vanguar%

figh"ers of "he .role"aria") +hey $us" conscien"iously re.resen" "he class



in"eres"s an% class i%eology of "he .role"aria") +herefore, "heir .ersonal

in"eres"s $us" never .ro>ec" beyon% "hose of "he .ar"y an% "he .role"aria") " is

all "he $ore necessary for each ca%re an% lea%er of "he Par"y "o be a livinge$bo%i$en" of "he general in"eres"s of "he Par"y an% "he .role"aria" an% "o

$erge his .ersonal in"eres"s co$.le"ely in "heir general in"eres"s an% ai$s) n

.resen"%ay *hina, i" is "he .role"aria" "ha" bes" re.resen"s "he in"eres"s of

na"ional libera"ion, an% "herefore our Par"y $e$bers $us" be -or"hycha$.ions of "he in"eres"s of "he na"ion as a -hole)

&e$bers of our Par"y $us" subor%ina"e .ersonal "o Par"y in"eres"s an% arerequire% "o sacrifice "he$ "o .ar"y in"eres"s if necessary) (u" "his by no $eans

i$.lies "ha" our Par"y %oes no" recognise, or brushes asi%e, "he .ersonal

in"eres" of i"s $e$bers or "ha" i" -an"s "o -i.e ou" "heir in%ivi%uali"y) Par"y$e$bers %o have "heir .ersonal .roble$s "o a""en% "o, an%, $oreover, "hey

shoul% %evelo. "he$selves accor%ing "o "heir in%ivi%ual inclina"ions an%

a."i"u%es) +herefore, so long as "he in"eres"s of "he Par"y are no" viola"e%, aPar"y $e$ber can have his .riva"e an% fa$ily life an% %evelo. his in%ivi%ual

inclina"ions an% a."i"u%es) A" "he sa$e "i$e, "he Par"y -ill use every .ossibili"y "o hel. $e$bers %evelo. "heir in%ivi%ual inclina"ions an%

a."i"u%es in confor$i"y -i"h i"s in"eres"s, furnish "he$ -i"h sui"able -or' an%

-or'ing con%i"ions an% co$$en% an% re-ar% "he$) As far as .ossible, "hePar"y -ill a""en% "o an% safeguar% i"s $e$bers5 essen"ial in"eres"s= for

ea$.le,, i" -ill give "he$ "he o..or"uni"y "o s"u%y an% "o acquire an

e%uca"ion, i" -ill hel. "he$ co.e -i"h heal"h an% fa$ily .roble$s an%, -hennecessary, i" -ill even give u. so$e of i"s -or' in or%er "o .reserve

co$ra%es -or'ing un%er "he rule of reac"ion) (u" all "his has no o"her

.ur.ose "han "he overall in"eres"s of "he Par"y) For "he fulfill$en" of i"s "as's"he Par"y $us" ensure "ha" $e$bers have "he con%i"ions necessary for life,

-or' an% e%uca"ion so "ha" "hey can .erfor$ "heir "as's -i"h en"husias$ an%

-i"hou" -orry) *o$ra%es in res.onsible Par"y .osi"ions $us" bear all "his in$in% -hen "hey %eal -i"h Par"y $e$bers5 .roble$s)

+o su$ u., on his si%e, each Par"y $e$ber shoul% co$.le"ely sub$i"hi$self "o "he in"eres"s of "he Par"y an% selfsacrificingly %evo"e hi$self "o"he .ublic %u"y) #e shoul% forego all .ersonal ai$s an% .riva"e

consi%era"ions -hich conflic" -i"h "he Par"y5s in"eres"s) #e shoul% no" "hin'

of hi$self all "he "i$e, $a'e en%less .ersonal %e$an%s on "he Par"y or bla$e"he Par"y for no" .ro$o"ing or re-ar%ing hi$) /ha"ever "he circu$s"ances,

he shoul% s"u%y har%, "ry "o $a'e .rogress, be courageous in s"ruggle an%

$a'e ceaseless effor"s "o raise "he level of his .oli"ical consciousness an% his



un%ers"an%ing of &aris$Leninis$, so as "o be able "o con"ribu"e $ore "o

"he Par"y an% "he revolu"ion) 7n "heir si%e all Par"y organi:a"ions an%

co$ra%es in res.onsible .osi"ions, in %ealing -i"h "he .roble$s of Par"y$e$bers, shoul% see ho- "hey -or', live an% s"u%y) an% enable "he$ "o -or'

be""er for "he Par"y, ceaselessly %evelo. "he$selves an% raise "heir level in

"he course of "he revolu"ionary s"ruggle of "he .role"aria") n .ar"icular,

a""en"ion shoul% be .ai% "o co$ra%es -ho are really selfless an% -ho serve"he .eo.le -ell) 7nly so, "hrough co$bine% a""en"ion an% effor" by bo"h si%es

can "he in"eres"s of "he Par"y be -ell serve%)

1) ≴+he Roll of "he *hinese *o$$unis" Par"y in "he Na"ional/ar ≵, Selected Works of Mao Zedong, 6ng) e%), FLP, (ei>ing, 19K, ol)

.) 19)

2) See *ue *ang Lou +i, by Fan Dhongyan ?9910K2@ of "he Song Eynas"y)

3) Fro$ Mencius, (oo' , ≴+eng /en 4ong≵, Par" )

) See "he Confucian Analects, (oo' 88 , ≴Di Dhang≵, *ha."er 21)≴+he faul"s of su.erior $en are li'e "he ecli.ses of "he sun an% "he $oon)

/hen "hey a..ear, all $en see "he$= -hen he correc"s "he$, all $en loo' u."o hi$)≵

K) See "he *onfucian ≴Eoc"rine of "he &ean≵ in "he "ook of ites<≴+here is no"hing $ore visible "han -ha" is secre", an% no"hing $ore

$anifes" "han "ha" -hich is $inu"e) +herefore "he su.erior $an is -a"chfulover hi$self -hen he is alone)≵

VII. Examples of Wrong Ideology in the Party

n "he ligh" of -ha" has been sai%, -e can see "ha" if an un%ers"an%ing of

co$$unis$ an% a correc" correla"ion be"-een .ersonal an% Par"y in"eres"sare "a'en as "he s"an%ar% for evalua"ing Par"y $e$bers an% ca%res, $any$easure u. "o i" an% can serve as $o%els, bu" so$e %o no" ye" $easure u. "o

"his s"an%ar% an% s"ill have various -rong i%eas "o so$e %egree or o"her) "

$ay no" be a$iss if ou"line "hese -rong i%eas for our co$ra%es5 a""en"ion)

/ha" are fun%a$en"ally "he -rong i%eas "o be foun% a$ong co$ra%es in

our Par"y













Firs") +he .eo.le >oining our Par"y no" only %iffer in in class origin an%

.ersonal class s"a"us bu" also carry -i"h "he$ ai$s an% $o"ives of every

%escri."ion) &any, of course, >oin "he Par"y in or%er "o bring abou"co$$unis$ an% a""ain "he grea" goal of "he e$anci.a"ion of "he .role"aria"

an% all $an'in%, bu" so$e %o so for o"her reasons an% -i"h o"her ai$s) For

ea$.le, so$e co$ra%es of .easan" bac'groun% use% "o "hin' "ha"

co$$unis$ $ean" Oe.ro.ria"ion of local "yran"s an% %is"ribu"ion of "helan%O) /hen "hey firs" >oine%, "hey ha% no un%ers"an%ing of "he real $eaning

of co$$unis$) +o%ay, qui"e a nu$ber of .eo.le >oin "he Par"y chiefly because i" is resolu"e in resis"ing Ja.an an% a%voca"es "he An"iJa.anese

Na"ional ni"e% Fron") 7"hers >oin our ran's because "hey a%$ire "heco$$unis" Par"y for i"s goo% re.u"a"ion or because "hey reali:e in a vague

-ay "ha" i" can save *hina) S"ill o"hers are see'ing a fu"ure for "he$selves,

chiefly because "hey have no o"her -ay ou" "hey have no fie% occu.a"ion,

are ou" of -or', lac' "he $eans of s"u%y, or -an" "o esca.e fro$ fa$ily bon%age or force% $arriage, e"c) A fe- even >oin because "hey coun" on "he

Par"y "o ge" "heir "aes re%uce%, or because "hey ho.e "o O$a'e "heir $ar'Oso$e %ay, or because "heir rela"ives or frien%s have brough" "he$ in, e"c)

Na"urally, such co$ra%es %o no" have a clearcu" an% s"able co$$unis" -orl%

ou"loo', %o no" un%ers"an% "he grea"ness of "he co$$unis" cause an% "he%ifficul"ies bese""ing i", an% lac' a fir$ .role"arian s"an% .oin") Na"urally "oo,

so$e of "he$ -ill -aver or change so$e-ha" in cer"ain circu$s"ances a"

cer"ain cri"ical "urning .oin"s) Since "hey bring all sor"s of i%eas -i"h "he$

in"o "he Par"y, i" is $os" i$.or"an" "ha" "hey shoul% be e%uca"e% an% shoul%"rain an% "e$.er "he$selves) 7"her-ise "hey canno" beco$e revolu"ionary

figh"ers of "he .role"aria")

Never"heless, "here is no "errible .roble$ here) Af"er all, i" is no" a ba%

"hing "ha" .eo.le "urn "o "he *o$$unis" Par"y, en"er i" see'ing a -ay ou" of

"heir .re%ica$en" an% a..rove of i"s .olicy) +hey are no" $is"a'en in co$ing"o us) /e -elco$e "he$ everyone ece." for ene$y agen"s, "rai"ors,

careeris"s an% a$bi"ious cli$bers) Provi%e% "hey acce." an% are rea%y "o

abi%e by "he Par"y5s Progra$$e an% *ons"i"u"ion, -or' in one of "he Par"y5sorgani:a"ions an% .ay $e$bershi. %ues, "hey $ay be a%$i""e% in"o "he

*o$$unis" Par"y) As for %ee.ing "heir s"u%y an% un%ers"an%ing of co$$unis$ an% "he Par"ys Progra$$e an% *ons"i"u"ion, "hey can %o so af"er

>oining "he Par"y an% can "e$.er an% "rain "he$selves in revolu"ionary

s"ruggle on "he basis of -ha" "hey learn= in "his -ay "hey have every .ossibili"y of beco$ing very goo% *o$$unis"s) n%ee%, for $os" .eo.le i" is

i$.ossible "o have a .roufoun% un%ers"an%ing of co$$unis$ an% "he Par"ys



Progra$$e an% *ons"i"u"ion before >oining "he Par"y) +ha" is -hy -e can

only .rescribe acce."ance, an% no" a "horough un%ers"an%ing of "he Par"ys

Progra$$e an% *ons"i"u"ion as a con%i"ion for a%$ission) Al"hough $any .eo.le %o no" have a "horough un%ers"an%ing of co$$unis$ before >oining,

i" is .ossible for "he$ "o beco$e ac"ive figh"ers in "he co$$unis" an%

revolu"ionary $ove$en"s of "he "i$e) +hey can beco$e .oli"ically conscious

*o$$unis"s .rovi%e% "hey s"u%y har% af"er >oining "he Par"y) Fur"her$ore,our Par"y *ons"i"u"ion s"i.ula"es "ha" $e$bers are free "o -i"h%ra- for$ "he

Par"y ?"here is no free%o$ of a%$ission@) Any $e$ber is free "o no"ify "hePar"y "ha" he is -i"h%ra-ing fro$ i" if he lac's a .rofoun% belief in

co$$unis$, or canno" live a s"ric" Par"y life, or for any o"her reason, an% "hePar"y gives hi$ "he free%o$ "o -i"h%ra-) " -ill %o no"hing agains" hi$

unless he gives a-ay Par"y secre"s or engages in -rec'ing ac"ivi"ies agains"

"he Par"y af"er he leaves) As for careeris"s an% s.ies -ho have -or$e% "heir

-ay in"o "he Par"y, of course "hey have "o be e.elle%) 7nly "hus can -e .reserve "he .uri"y of our Par"y)

Secon%) Fairly s"rong in%ivi%ualis$ an% selfishness are s"ill "o be foun% inso$e $e$bers of our Par"y)

+he in%ivi%ualis$ e.resses i"self as follo-s) So$e .eo.le habi"ually

.lace "heir .ersonal in"eres"s above "hose of "he Par"y -hen i" co$es "o

.rac"ical $a""ers= "hey are .reoccu.ie% -i"h .ersonal gain an% loss an%

al-ays calcula"e in "er$s of .ersonal in"eres"s= "hey abuse "he .ublic "rus","urning "heir Par"y -or' "o .riva"e a%van"age of one 'in% or ano"her= or "hey

a""ac' co$ra%es "hey %isli'e an% -rea' .riva"e vengeance, on highsoun%ing .re"e"s of .rinci.le or Par"y in"eres"s) /hen i" co$es "o s"a"us, $a"erial

benefi"s an% o"her ques"ions affec"ing every%ay life, "hey invariably "ry "o ge"$ore "han o"hers, co$.are "he$selves -i"h "hose a" "he "o., %iligen"ly s"rive

af"er grea"er .ersonal benefi"s an% cro- -hen "hey ge" "he$) (u" -hen i"

co$es "o -or', "hey li'e "o co$.are "he$selves -i"h "hose -ho are lessca.able) /hen "here har% har%shi.s "o bea" "hey $a'e "he$selves scarce) n

"i$es of %anger "hey -an" "o run a-ay) /hen i" co$es "o or%erlies "heyal-ays -an" $ore) +heir living quar"ers $us" be of "he bes", an% "hey -an" "osho- off an% bas' in "he Par"y5s glory) +hey -an" "o grab all "he goo% "hings

of life, bu" -hen i" co$es "o "he Oun.leasan" "hingsO, "hey "hin' "hese are for

o"hers) +he hea%s of such .eo.le are s"uffe% -i"h "he i%eology of "hee.loi"ing classes) +hey believe "ha" Oevery $an is for hi$self or "ha" #eaven

an% 6ar"h -ill %es"roy hi$O, $an is a Oselfish ani$alO, an% Ono one in "he

-orl% is genuinely unselfish, unless he is a si$.le"on or an i%io"O) +hey even



use such e.loi"ing class rubbish "o >us"ify "heir o-n selfishness an%

in%ivi%ualis$) +here are such .eo.le in our Par"y)

+his "y.e of selfsee'ing in%ivi%ualis$ of"en $anifes"s i"self insi%e "hePar"y in un.rinci.le% quarrelling, fac"ional s"ruggle, sec"arianis$ an%

%e.ar"$en"alis$= i" $anifes"s i"self in %isres.ec" for an% -ilful viola"ion of

Par"y %isci.line) &os" un.rinci.le% s"ruggles origina"e in .ersonal in"eres"s)+hose -ho go in for fac"ional s"ruggle an% are given "o sec"arianis$ usually

.lace "heir o-n in%ivi%ual in"eres"s or "he in"eres"s of a s$all $inori"y, above

"hose of "he Par"y) 7f"en, in "heir un.rinci.le% fac"ional s"ruggles "hey%elibera"ely un%er$ine Par"y organi:a"ion an% %isci.line, $a'ing

un.rinci.le% an% so$e"i$es calcula"e% a""ac's on cer"ain .eo.le, -hile

con"rac"ing un.rinci.le% frien%shi.s "o avoi% giving offence, "o cover u. for one ano"her, "o sing each o"her5s .raises, e"c)

Ee.ar"$en"alis$ -i"hin "he Par"y arises chiefly because so$e co$ra%esonly see "he in"eres" of "he .ar", i)e), "he -or' of "heir o-n %e.ar"$en" of locali"y, an% fail "o see "he in"eres"s of "he -hole, i)e), "he in"eres"s of "he

en"ire Par"y an% "he -or' of o"her %e.ar"$en"s an% locali"ies) Poli"ically an%

i%eologically, "his rese$bles "he guil% ou"loo') No" all co$ra%es -ho $a'e"he $is"a'e of %e.ar"$en"alis$ are necessarily .ro$."e% by in%ivi%ualis$,

bu" .eo.le -i"h an in%ivi%ualis" i%eology usually $a'e "he $is"a'e of

%e.ar"$en"alis$)

+hir%) *oncei", "he i%ea of in%ivi%ualis"ic herois$, os"en"a"iousness, e"c),

are s"ill "o be foun%, "o a grea"er or lesser e"en", in "he $in%s of qui"e a fe-

Par"y co$ra%es)

+he firs" consi%era"ion of .eo.le -i"h such no"ions is "heir .osi"ion in "hePar"y) +hey li'e "o sho- off an% "o have .eo.le sing "heir .raises an% fla""er

"he$) +hey are a$bi"ious, "hey li'e "o cu" a %ash, "o clai$ cre%i" for "he$selves an% "o ge" "he li$eligh", an% "hey li'e "o 'ee. every"hing in "heir

o-n han%s an% lac' a %e$ocra"ic s"yle of -or') +hey are e"re$ely vain an%un-illing "o i$$erse "he$selves in har% -or' or %o rou"ine or "echnical >obs) +hey are arrogan", an% -henever "hey acco$.lish so$e"hing "hey "hro-

"heir -eigh" abou", beco$e overbearing an% "ry "o %o$ineer, an% "hey %o no"

"rea" o"hers as equals in a $o%es" an% frien%ly -ay) +hey are co$.lacen", "al' %o-n "o an% lec"ure .eo.le an% or%er o"hers abou", an% "hey are al-ays "rying

"o "rea% on .eo.le5s nec's= "hey %o no" learn $o%es"ly fro$ o"hers,

.ar"icularly fro$ "he $asses, an% %o no" acce." even -ellgroun%e% o.inions



an% cri"icis$s) +hey can bear .ro$o"ion bu" no" %e$o"ion, "hey can bear fair

-ea"her bu" no" foul, an% "hey canno" bear being $isun%ers"oo% or -ronge%)

As "heir baleful yearning for fa$e has no" ye" been u.roo"e% "hey "ry "o %ress"he$selves u. as Ogrea" $enO an% OheroesO in "he co$$unis" $ove$en" an%

s"o. a" no"hing "o gra"ify "heir %esire) /hen "hey fail "o achieve "his ob>ec", or

-hen "hey are $isun%ers"oo% or -ronge% "here is a %anger "ha" "hey -ill

vacilla"e) Mui"e a nu$ber of .eo.le have vacilla"e% an% lef" our Par"y for suchreasons in "he course of i"s his"ory) 6.loi"ing class i%eas s"ill linger in "he

$in%s of such .eo.le, -ho fail "o un%ers"an% "he grea"ness of "he cause of co$$unis$ an% -ho lac' "he co$$unis" brea%"h of vision)

*o$$unis"s $us" no" be in "he leas" co$.lacen" or arrogan") 4ran"e% "ha"

so$e co$ra%es are very ca.able, have %one so$e goo% -or' an% have "o"heir cre%i" consi%erable achieve$en"s -hich $ay be rec'one% Ogrea"O an%

on -hich "hey $igh" -ell .reen "he$selves ?for ea$.le, our ar$y co$ra%es

-ho have le% "housan%s an% "ens of "housan%s of $en in ba""le an% -onvic"ories, or "he lea%ers of our Par"y an% $ass -or' in various .laces -ho

have brough" abou" fairly significan" changes in "he si"ua"ion@) e" af"er all,ho- grea" are "hese achieve$en"s co$.are% -i"h "he co$$unis" cause as a

-hole

An% for .ersons -i"h a co$$unis" -orl% ou"loo', -ha" is "here -or"h

.reening oneself abou" in "hese achieve$en"s

For a *o$$unis" "o %o his -or' .ro.erly an% -ell is no $ore "han his

%u"y) #e shoul% guar% agains" co$.lacency an% arrogance an% %o his bes" "o

$a'e no $is"a'es, or as fe- as .ossible)

/ha" is "here in .ersonal .osi"ion for a *o$$unis" "o bo"her abou" Noone5s .osi"ion is higher "han an e$.eror5s, an% ye" -ha" is an e$.eror

co$.are% -i"h a figh"er in "he cause of co$$unis$ s he no" >us" Oa %ro. in"he oceanO as *o$ra%e S"alin .u" i" So -ha" is "here in .ersonal .osi"ion

-or"h bo"hering or bragging abou"

es, -e nee% coun"less co$$unis" heroes an% $any $ass lea%ers of grea"

.res"ige in our Par"y an% in "he co$$unis" $ove$en") A" .resen" -e reallyhave "oo fe- of "he$ an% have ye" "o "rain an% "e$.er large nu$bers of goo%

co$$unis" revolu"ionary lea%ers an% heroes in all fiel%s) +his is in%ee% very

i$.or"an" for our cause an% $us" no" be neglec"e%) /hoever "a'es i" ligh"ly isignoran" of ho- "o a%vance "he cause of co$$unis$) "s a%vance$en"

requires "ha" -e shoul% grea"ly enhance "he revolu"ionary s.iri" of en"er.rise



a$ong our Par"y $e$bers an% bring "heir vi"ali"y in"o full .lay) /e have "o

a%$i" "ha" so far -e have no" %one enough in "his res.ec") +his is sho-n, for

ins"ance, by "he fac" "ha" so$e Par"y $e$bers %o no" s"u%y har% an% haveli""le in"eres" in .oli"ics an% "heory) +herefore, -hile -e are o..ose% "o

in%ivi%ualis"ic herois$ an% os"en"a"iousness , -e are cer"ainly no" o..ose% "o

a s.iri" of en"er.rise in "he Par"y $e$bers) +he %esire "o $a'e .rogress in "he

in"eres"s of "he .eo.le is "he $os" .recious quali"y in a *o$$unis") (u" "heco$$unis", .role"arian s.iri" of en"er.rise is en"irely %ifferen" fro$ "he

in%ivi%ualis" Os.iri" of en"er.riseO) +he for$er $eans see'ing "ru"h,u.hol%ing i" an% figh"ing for i" -i"h "he grea"es" effec"iveness) " is

.rogressive an% o.ens u. unli$i"e% .ros.ec"s of %evelo.$en", -hile "hela""er offers no .ros.ec"s even for "he in%ivi%ual, for .eo.le -i"h an

in%ivi%ualis" i%eology are usually %riven by "heir .ersonal in"eres" in"o

%elibera"ely brushing asi%e, covering u. or %is"or"ing "he "ru"h)

7ur co$ra%es $us" un%ers"an% "ha" genuine lea%ers an% heroes in "heco$$unis" $ove$en" are never in%ivi%ualis"ic, nor are "hey ever selfs"yle%

or selfa..oin"e%) Anyone -ho s"yles hi$self a lea%er or reaches af"er lea%ershi. can never beco$e a lea%er of "he Par"y) +he ran' an% file of our

Par"y -ill no" $a'e lea%ers of .eo.le -ho are .rone "o concei",

in%ivi%ualis"ic herois$, os"en"a"iousness, .ersonal a$bi"ion an% vani"y) No$e$ber of our Par"y has any righ" "o %e$an% "ha" "he ran' an% file shoul%

su..or" or 'ee. hi$ as a lea%er) 7nly "hose -ho are en"irely selfless an%

%evo"e% "o "he Par"y, only "hose -i"h an ecellen" co$$unis" $orali"y an%fine co$$unis" quali"ies, -ho have gras.e% "he "heory an% $e"ho% of

&aris$Leninis$, -ho have consi%erable .rac"ical abili"y, -ho can %irec"

Par"y -or' correc"ly an% -ho s"u%y har% an% $a'e cons"an" .rogress can -in"he "rus" of "he Par"y an% "he confi%ence an% su..or" of "he ran' an% file, an%

so beco$e lea%ers an% heroes in "he co$$unis" $ove$en")

7ur co$ra%es $us" also un%ers"an% "ha" a $e$ber, or a lea%er an% hero,-hoever he $ay be, can only %o .ar" of "he -or', can only carry .ar" of "he

res.onsibili"y, in "he co$$unis" $ove$en") +he co$$unis" cause is anun%er"a'ing -hich requires "he collec"ive effor"s of "ens of $illions of .eo.leover a long .erio% of "i$e an% -hich canno" be enco$.asse% by any one

in%ivi%ual alone) 6ven such grea" $en as &ar, 6ngels, Lenin an% S"alin

coul% only .erfor$ .ar" of "he -or' nee%e% by "he co$$unis" cause) +hecause for -hich "hey -or'e% requires "he >oin" effor" an% sus"aine% labour of

"ens of $illions of us) /e or%inary *o$$unis"s are also %oing .ar" of "he

-or' of "he co$$unis" cause an% carrying .ar" of "he res.onsibili"y) 7f



course, our .ar" is $uch s$aller "han "ha" of &ar, 6ngles, Lenin or S"alin)

Never"heless, -e have a s$all .ar") (ig or s$all, i" is all .ar" of "he grea"

cause) +herefore, if only -e %o our .ar" of "he -or' -ell, -e can consi%er "ha" -e have %one our %u"y) Na"urally -e shoul% "ry our bes" "o %o $ore, bu"

if -e canno" an% can only %o a li""le, "ha" is also useful an% >us" as

honourable) n any case, -e shoul% a" leas" no" ha$.er "he .rogress of "he

co$$unis" cause, bu" shoul% %o our .ar", -he"her big of s$all, an% .erfor$our -or' -ell, be i" heavy or ligh"= "ha" is "he correc" a""i"u%e for every

$e$ber of our Par"y) *o$ra%es -ho are un-illing "o un%er"a'e "echnical-or' "hin' "ha" i" s"ifles "heir "alen"s, "ha" i" .reven"s "he$ fro$ beco$ingfa$ous ?ac"ually i" %oes no", as -i"ness "he "echnical -or'er S"a'hanov 1 an%

fro$ giving full .lay "o "heir abili"ies an% "ha" i" 'ills so$e of "he en"er.rising

s.iri" -hich all *o$$unis"s shoul% have) +his vie- is -rong) +echnical

-or' occu.ies a very i$.or"an" .lace in our Par"y -or', an% co$ra%es

engage% in i" are %oing "heir share in "he co$$unis" cause no less "hanco$ra%es engage% in o"her >obs) +he .ro.er a""i"u%e for a *o$$unis" is "o %o

-ha"ever -or' "he Par"y requires of hi$ an% %o i" ha..ily an% -ell, -he"her i" sui"s his inclina"ions of no")

Na"urally, in assigning -or' "o $e$bers, "he Par"y organi:a"ion an% "he

res.onsible Par"y co$ra%es shoul%, as far as .ossible, "a'e "heir in%ivi%ualinclina"ions an% a."i"u%es in"o consi%era"ion, %evelo. "heir s"rong .oin"s an%

s"i$ula"e "heir :eal "o go for-ar%) #o-ever, no *o$$unis" $us" refuse a

Par"y assign$en" on "he groun%s of .ersonal .reference)

Four"h, A s$all nu$ber of co$ra%es are %ee.ly i$bue% -i"h "he i%eologyof "he e.loi"ing classes) +hey are usually unscru.ulous in %ealing -i"h

co$ra%es an% in han%ling .roble$s insi%e "he Par"y, an% are u""erly %evoi% of "he grea" an% sincere .role"arian co$$unis" s.iri" of $u"ual hel. an%

soli%ari"y)

Peo.le -i"h "his i%eology al-ays -an" "o cli$b over "he hea%s of o"hers in

"he Par"y an%, "o "his en%, resor" "o a""ac'ing o"hers an% %oing "he$ har$)+hey are >ealous of "hose $ore ca.able "han "he$selves) +hey al-ays "ry "o

.ull %o-n "hose -ho are $oving ahea% of "he$) +hey canno" bear .laying

secon% fi%%le an% "hin' only of "he$selves an% never of o"hers) /hen o"her co$ra%es are suffering %ifficul"ies of se"bac's, "hey gloa" or secre"ly re>oice

an% have no co$ra%ely sy$.a"hy a" all) +hey even sche$e "o in>ureco$ra%es O%ro. on one -ho has fallen in"o a -ellO, an% "a'e a%van"age of

co$ra%es5 -ea'nesses an% %ifficul"ies "o a""ac' an% har$ "he$) +hey Ocra-l






"hrough any crac'O an% e.loi" an% eacerba"e any -ea'ness in Par"y

organi:a"ion an% -or' for "heir .ersonal a%van"age)) +hey love "o s"ir u.

"rouble in "he Par"y, s.ea' ill of o"hers behin% "heir bac's an% engage inin"rigues in or%er "o so- %issension be"-een co$ra%es) +hey love "o >oin in

any un.rinci.le% %is.u"e "ha" $ay occur in "he Par"y an% "a'e grea" in"eres" in

un.rinci.le% quarrels) +hey are es.ecially ac"ive in s"irring u. an%

aggrava"ing such quarrels -hen "he Par"y is in %ifficul"ies) n shor", "hey are"horoughly croo'e% an% lac' all in"egri"y) /oul% i" no" be absur% "o %escribe

such .eo.le as being able "o gras. "he &aris"Leninis" "heory an% $e"ho%an% give e.ression "o .role"arian i%eology " is only "oo clear "ha" all "hey

e.ress is "he i%eology of "he %eclining e.loi"ing classes)

All e.loi"ers $us" %o har$ "o o"her .eo.le in or%er "o e.an%) +o increase"heir -eal"h, or "o avoi% ban'ru."cy in an econo$ic crisis, bigger ca.i"alis"s

$us" squee:e $any s$aller ca.i"alis"s ou" of eis"ence an% %rive coun"less

-or'ers "o s"arva"ion) +o enrich "he$selves, lan%lor%s $us" e.loi" .easan"san% %e.rive $any of "he$ of "heir lan%) n or%er "o e.an%, fascis" 4er$any,

"aly an% Ja.an $us" %evas"a"e o"her coun"ries= "hey have sub>uga"e% Aus"ria,*:echoslova'ia, an% Abyssinia2 an% are co$$i""ing aggression agains"

*hina) 6.loi"ers al-ays har$ an% ruin o"her .eo.le as a necessary

.recon%i"ion for "heir o-n e.ansion= "heir ha..iness is foun%e% on "hesuffering of o"hers) A$ong "he e.loi"ers, "herefore, genuine fir$ uni"y,

genuine $u"ual hel., an% genuine hu$an sy$.a"hy are i$.ossible= "hey

inevi"ably engage in in"rigues an% un%erhan% ac"ivi"ies in or%er "o ruin o"hers)e" "hey have "o lie an% .ose as sain"s an% .illars of >us"ice before "he .eo.le)

Such are "he %is"inguishing charac"eris"ics of all %eclining e.loi"ing classes)

+hese $an be $o%els of OfineO e"hical con%uc" for "he e.loi"ers, bu" "hey are$os" cri$inal fro$ "he .oin" of vie- of "he .role"aria" an% "he $asses)

+he .role"aria" is "he co$.le"e an"i"hesis of "he e.loi"ing classes) " %oes

no" e.loi" o"hers bu" is i"self e.loi"e%) +here is no conflic" of basic in"eres"s-i"hin i"s ran's or be"-een i" an% "he o"her o..resse% an% e.loi"e% -or'ing

.eo.le) Far fro$ nee%ing "o har$ o"her -or'ing .eo.le or i$.e%e "heir %evelo.$en" for "he sa'e of i"s o-n %evelo.$en" an% e$anci.a"ion, "he .role"aria" $os" forge "he closes" uni"y -i"h "he$ in "he co$$on s"ruggle) f

"he .role"aria" is "o e$anci.a"e i"self, i" $us" a" "he sa$e "i$e e$anci.a"e all

o"her -or'ing .eo.le an% e$anci.a"e all $an'in%) +here can be no such"hing as "he se.ara"e e$anci.a"ion of a single -or'er or sec"ion of -or'ers)

+he .role"aria" $us" carry "he cause of "he e$anci.a"ion of hu$ani"y "hrough





"o "he en%, figh"ing s"e. by s"e. for "he libera"ion of all $an'in%, an% "here

can be no giving u. or co$.ro$ising half-ay)

As a resul" of "his ob>ec"ive .osi"ion occu.ie% by "he .role"aria", "hei%eology of "he .oli"ically conscious -or'ers is "he %ia$e"rical o..osi"e of

"ha" of "he e.loi"ers) *o$$unis"s are vanguar% figh"ers of "he .role"aria",

-ho ar$ "he$selves -i"h &aris$Leninis$ an% are ru"hless "o-ar%s "he .eo.le5s ene$ies bu" never "o-ar%s "he "oilers, "heir class bro"hers an%

co$ra%es) +hey %ifferen"ia"e clearly an% shar.ly be"-een "he a""i"u%es an%

$e"ho%s "o be a%o."e% agains" "he ene$y an% "hose "o be a%o."e% "o-ar%s"heir co$ra%es an% frien%s) +hey cherish grea" an% sincere frien%shi.,

-ar$"h an% sy$.a"hy for o"her $e$bers of "heir o-n class an% for all

o..resse% an% e.loi"e% -or'ing .eo.le, "o-ar%s -ho$ "hey sho- a fines.iri" of $u"ual hel., fir$ uni"y an% genuine equali"y) +hey are absolu"ely

o..ose% "o .rivileges of any 'in% for anyone, consi%er i" i$.er$issible "o

"hin' in "er$s of .rivilege for "he$selves, an% -oul% %ee$ i" un"hin'ablean% even a %isgrace, "o occu.y a .rivilege% .osi"ion a$ong "he .eo.le) f

"hey "he$selves are "o %evelo. an% i$.rove s"a"us, "hey $us" %evelo. o"hersan% i$.rove "he s"a"us of all "he -or'ing .eo.le a" "he sa$e "i$e) +hey are

anious no" "o fall behin%, -he"her i%eologically or .oli"ically or in "heir

-or', an% "hey have a s"ur%y s.iri" of en"er.rise, bu" a" "he sa$e "i$e "heyes"ee$, cherish an% su..or" "hose -ho are ahea% of "he$ in "hese res.ec"s

an%, -i"hou" any >ealousy, %o "heir bes" "o learn fro$ "he$) +hey are %ee.ly

concerne% -i"h "he sufferings an% .riva"ions of "heir o-n class an% of all-or'ing .eo.le, "hey are concerne% -i"h all "he s"ruggles of "he -or'ing

.eo.le for e$anci.a"ion any-here in "he -orl%, regar%ing every vic"ory or

%efea" for "he -or'ing .eo.le any-here as "heir o-n vic"ory of %efea", an%"herefore %is.laying "he grea"es" soli%ari"y) +hey consi%er i" -rong "o be

in%ifferen" "o "he s"ruggle of "he -or'ing an% o..resse% .eo.le for libera"ion

an% cri$inal "o gloa" over "heir se"bac's +hey cherish "heir o-n co$ra%esan% bro"hers, -hose -ea'nesses an% $is"a'es "hey cri"ici:e fran'ly an%

sincerely ?an% "his sho-s genuine affec"ion@= in $a""ers of .rinci.le "hey

never gloss over an% acco$$o%a"e, le" alone encourage $is"a'es ?"oacco$$o%a"e or even "o encourage o"hers5 $is"a'es %oes no" be"o'en

genuine affec"ion for one5s co$ra%es@) +hey %o every"hing .ossible "o hel.co$ra%es overco$e -ea'nesses an% correc" $is"a'es an% never e.loi" or

aggrava"e "hese -ea'nesses an% $is"a'es "o ge" co$ra%es in"o "rouble, le"

alone cause "he $is"a'es "o %evelo. beyon% correc"ion) No" harbouring any%esire "o se""le ol% scores, "hey can re"urn goo% for evil "o "heir o-n

co$ra%es an% bro"hers an% hel. "he$ s"raigh"en "he$selves ou") +hey can be



s"ric" -i"h "he$selves an% lenien" -i"h o"hers) +he s"an% "hey "a'e is fir$,

s"ric" an% .rinci.le%, "heir a""i"u%e is fran', u.righ" an% res.onsible, "hey %o

no" give -ay on $a""ers of .rinci.le, "hey %o no" "olera"e anyone -ho har$s"he Par"y, "hey %o no" .er$i" anyone "o insul" "he$ an% are .ar"icularly

con"e$."uous of a%ula"ion an% fla""ery as con"rary "o all .rinci.le) +hey

o..ose all un.rinci.le% s"ruggles= "hey %o no" le" "he$selves beco$e

involve% in such s"ruggles an% are no" s-aye% or affec"e% by irres.onsible or casual cri"icis$ $a%e behin% "heir bac's as "o %e.ar" fro$ .rinci.le, beco$e

inca.able of "hin'ing cal$ly or lose "heir co$.osure) Such are "he .role"arian quali"ies in "he $os" concen"ra"e%, ee$.lary an% concre"e for$)

+hese quali"ies re.resen" every"hing of in"egri"y in .resen"%ay socie"y)n%ee% i" is "he *o$$unis" Par"y "ha" re.resen"s hu$an in"egri"y) /e $us"

fos"er an% enhance such .role"arian in"egri"y an% overco$e all "ha" is croo'e%

an% evil)

Fif"h) Pe""iness, fussing over "rifles an% ignoring "he general in"eres" arefaul"s s"ill .revalen" a$ong so$e Par"y $e$bers) +hese co$ra%es lac' "he

na"ure an% brea%"h of vision of *o$$unis"s an% are blin% "o "he bigger "hings= "hey relish only "he i$$e%ia"e an% .e""y) +hey %o no" "a'e $uch

in"eres" in "he grea" .roble$s an% even"s in "he Par"y an% "he revolu"ion, bu"

are al-ays fussing over "he $eres" "rifles abou" -hich "hey en"er in"o .on%erous an% en%less argu$en"s an% beco$e highly %is"urbe%) Such .eo.le

are also easily le% by "he nose -hen "hey receive so$e s$all favour or

'in%ness) +hey have "he .e""y$in%e%ness charac"eris"ic of s$all rural .ro%ucers)

+here are o"her .eo.le -ho %o no" see$ "o have a clearcu" an% %efini"e

a""i"u%e in "heir Par"y life, .eo.le -ho shif" an% he%ge) +hey are ac"ually of "-o 'in%s= for one 'in% "he ques"ion is one of un%ers"an%ing an% for "he

o"her, of $oral charac"er) +he la""er are al-ays o..or"unis"ic in "heir .ersonal

behaviour, curry favour -i"h all si%es an% "ry "o .lease everybo%y) +hey "ailor "heir -or%s "o "he .erson an% "he circu$s"ances, "ac' -i"h "he -in% an% sho-

no .rinci.le -ha"soever) Such are "heir charac"eris"ics) So$e"i$es, "hey -ai"an% see -ha" -ill sui" "he occasion, li'e "he ba" in Aeso.5s Fables, 3 an% "hen

$ove over "o "he -inning si%e) Such%ouble face% crea"ures, -ho are nei"her

fish nor fo-l, are no" al"oge"her un'no-n in our ran's) +hey have "he "rai"s

of "he ol%fashione% $erchan") n a%%i"ion, "here are so$e in%ivi%uals -ho,unable "o resis" "he lure of "he ol% socie"y5s e.loi"ing classes, -i"h "heir

gli""ering -orl%, "heir $oney an% "heir -o$en, begin "o -aver, go -rong an%

even"ually "o be"ray "he Par"y an% "he revolu"ion)





Finally, "he i%eology of so$e of our Par"y co$ra%es of"en reflec"s "he

i$.e"uosi"y an% vacilla"ion of "he .e""ybourgeoisie an% "he %es"ruc"iveness

of "he lu$.en.role"aria" an% cer"ain ban'ru." .easan"s, bu" shall no" goin"o "his ques"ion here)

+o su$ u., our Par"y re.resen"s "he grea" an% .o-erful .role"arian

co$$unis" i%eology, bu" i" $us" be no"e% "ha" all 'in%s of non.role"ariani%eology inclu%ing even "he i%eology of "he %eclining e.loi"ing classes

are s"ill reflec"e% "o a grea"er or lesser %egree in "he $in%s of cer"ain

co$ra%es) A" "i$es such i%eology is %or$an" in "he Par"y, revealing i"self only in insignifican" $a""ers of every%ay life= bu" a" o"her "i$es i" beco$es

ac"ive, sys"e$a"ically revealing i"self in a -hole varie"y of ques"ions of Par"y

.rinci.le, in $a>or .oli"ical ques"ions an% in .roble$s of inner Par"ys"ruggle) *er"ain sec"ions of lin's in "he Par"y organi:a"ion $ay co$e "o be

%o$ina"e% an% corro%e% by such erroneous i%eology, an% in e"re$e cases in

$ay even "e$.orarily %o$ina"e 'ey lin's in "he Par"y lea%ershi., as in "he .erio%s -hen .eo.le li'e *hen Euiu4 an% Dhang 4uo"ao5 -ere in con"rol) n

nor$al .erio%s, ho-ever, i" is hel% in chec' by "he correc" .role"ariani%eology) +hese are all $anifes"a"ions -i"hin "he Par"y of "he s"ruggle

be"-een "he .role"arian an% non.role"arian i%eology) Si$ilarly -i"h so$e

in%ivi%ual Par"y $e$bers) A" "i$es -ha" is -rong in "heir i%eology lies%or$an" an% un%er con"rol, bu" a" o"her "i$es i" $ay gro- an% even %o$ina"e

"heir ac"ions) +his is a $anifes"a"ion a$ong in%ivi%ual Par"y $e$bers of "he

con"ra%ic"ion an% s"ruggle be"-een .role"arian an% non.role"arian i%eology)For our Par"y $e$bers, i%eological selfcul"iva"ion $eans "ha" "hey $us"

conscien"iously use "he .role"arian i%eology an% "he co$$unis" -orl%

ou"loo' "o overco$e an% eli$ina"e all "he various 'in%s of incorrec", non .role"arian i%eology)

1) A)4) S"a'hanov ?190I @, a coal $iner in Eonbas in "he Sovie" nion,

-as a -ell'no-n innova"or in "he coal in%us"ry) #e a%o."e% ne- "echniquesan% i$.rove% "he organi:a"ion of labour, "hus se""ing a recor% .ace for "he

$ining of coal -i"h an air .ic') #e -as able "o $ine 102 "ons of coal in fivean% "hree quar"ers hours, four"een "i$es "he s"an%ar% ou".u") #is %ee% -as

quic'ly given -i%e .ublici"y an% le% "o a $ass $ove$en" of socialis"

e$ula"ion, 'no-n as "he S"a'hanov &ove$en")

2) Abyssinia is 6"hio.ia)











3) See ≴+he (a" an% "he /easels≵, Aeso-.s /a'les) A ba" once fell %o-n

an% -as caugh" by a -easel) #e begge% "he -easel "o s.are his life) +he-easel sai%, ≴ ha"e bir%s) -ill no" le" you go)≵ +he ba" sai%, ≴ a$ no" a

bir% bu" a $ouse,≵ an% -as se" free) So$e"i$e la"er, "he ba" again fell "o "he

groun% an% -as caugh" by ano"her -easel) #e begge% "he -easel no" "o 'ill

hi$) +he -easel sai% he ha"e% $ice) +he ba" argue% "ha" he -as no" a $ouse

bu" a ba" an% so he -as se" free a secon% "i$e) +he ba" "hus save% his life"-ice by changing his na$e)

) *hen Euiu ?10192@, a na"ive of "he ci"y of Anqing, Anhui Province?originally #uaining *oun"y@, began e%i"ing "he $aga:ine *outh or 0ew

*outh as i" -as la"er calle% , in Se."e$ber 191K) n 191, "oge"her -i"h Li

Ea:hao, he foun%e% "he Weekl$ eview, an% he -as an a%voca"e of "he ne-cul"ure an% one of "he chief lea%ers of "he &ay "h ne- cul"ural $ove$en")

Af"er "he &ay "h &ove$en", he acce."e% an% .ro.aga"e% &aris$) #e -as

one of "he $ain foun%ers of "he *o$$unis" Par"y of *hina an% serve% as i"schief lea%er for "he firs" si years af"er i"s foun%ing) n "he las" .erio% of "he

Firs" Revolu"ionary *ivil /ar, he co$$i""e% a serious error of Righ"ca.i"ula"ionis$) La"er, he los" his fai"h in "he fu"ure of "he revolu"ion an%

%enie% "ha" i" -as necessary for "he .role"aria" "o con"inue "o carry ou" "he

"as's of "he %e$ocra"ic revolu"ion in *hina) #e for$e% a fac"ion insi%e "hePar"y, engage% in an"iPar"y ac"ivi"ies an% -as consequen"ly e.elle% in

Nove$ber 1929) #e la"er lin'e% u. -i"h "he +ro"s'yi"es, an% in &ay 1931 he

-as $a%e general secre"ary of a +ro"s'yi"e organi:a"ion) n Se."e$ber 1932,he -as arres"e% an% i$.risone% by "he !uo$in"ang) #e -as release% in

Augus" 193)

K) Dhang 4uo"ao ?19199@, a na"ive of Pingiang, Jiangi Province,a""en%e% "he Firs" Na"ional *ongress of "he *o$$unis" Par"y of *hina in

1921 an% -as elec"e% a $e$ber of "he *en"ral *o$$i""ee a" i"s Secon%,

Four"h, Fif"h an% Si"h Na"ional *ongresses) A" "he Firs" Plenary Session of "he Si"h Na"ional *ongress, he -as elec"ec a $e$ber of "he Poli"ical

(ureau) n 1931 he serve% as secre"ary of "he #ubei#enanAnhui Sub bureau of "he *en"ral *o$$i""ee an% vicechair$an of "he Provisional*en"ral 4overn$en" of "he *hinese Sovie" Re.ublic) n June 193K, -hen "he

Firs" Fron" Ar$y of "he Re% Ar$y >oine% forces -i"h "he Four"h Fron" Ar$y

in -es"ern Sichuan, he beca$e general .oli"ical co$$issar of "he Re% Ar$y)#e o..ose% "he *en"ral *o$$i""ee5s %ecision "o have "he Re% Ar$y con"inue

i"s nor"h-ar% $arch) As a resul", he carrie% ou" cri$inal ac"ivi"ies "o s.li" "hePar"y an% "he Re% Ar$y an% se" u. a se.ara"e ≴ .ar"y cen"ral co$$i""ee)≵ n









June 193I, force% "o abolish "he ≴secon% .ar"y cen"ral co$$i""ee≵, he

con"inue% "he nor"h-ar% $arch -i"h "he Secon% an% Four"h Fron" Ar$ies,

reaching "he nor"hern .ar" of Shaani Province in Eece$ber) #e beca$e "hevicechair$an of "he 4overn$en" of Shaani4ansuNingia (or%er Region

in 193) n A.ril 193, -hile allege%ly a""en%ing a cere$ony "o s-ee. "he

grave of "he ello- 6$.eror, #uang%i, he fle% "he region, -en" "o /uhan via

8i5an an% >oine% "he !uo$in"ang secre" .olice) #e "hus beca$e a renega%efro$ "he *hinese Revolu"ion, an% he -as subsequen"ly e.elle% fro$ "he

Par"y)

VIII. The Source of Wrong Ideology in Our Party

+he *o$$unis" Par"y, re.resen"ing "he brigh"es" an% $os" .rogressiveas.ec"s of con"e$.ory hu$an socie"y, is "he bearer an% %isse$ina"or of

&aris$Leninis$, "he ac$e of hu$an "hough") +he $os" .oli"icallyconscious, .rogressive an% %evelo.e% .eo.le in "he -orl%, .eo.le -i"h "hehighes" sense of $orali"y an% >us"ice, are ga"here% in "he co$$unis" Par"ies,

figh"ing uns-ervingly agains" all "he forces of %ar'ness an% for "he brigh"fu"ure an% final e$anci.a"ion of $an'in%) +he *o$$unis" Par"y of *hina is

one of "he bes" *o$$unis" Par"ies in "he -orl%) 4ui%e% by our lea%er

*o$ra%e &ao De%ong, our Par"y is ar$e% -i"h "he .o-erful -ea.on of &aris"Leninis" "heory an%, a" "he sa$e "i$e, is carrying for-ar% "he fine

"ra%i"ions of .rogressive "hin'ers an% revolu"ionaries in *hinese his"ory) "

re.resen"s "he $os" .rogressive an% brigh"es" as.ec"s of *hinese socie"y, an%"he fines" sons an% %augh"ers of "he *hinese na"ion are ga"here% -i"hin i"s

organi:e% ran's) " has been figh"ing "he forces of %ar'ness in *hinese

socie"y for a long "i$e, has gone "hrough an ar%uous .rocess of "e$.eringan% has accu$ula"e rich e.erience in revolu"ionary s"ruggle) n all "his -e

*o$$unis"s can >us"ly "a'e .ri%e) +here is every groun% for absolu"e

confi%ence "ha" -e shall finally be successful an% vic"orious) #o-ever, -ecanno" say ye" "ha" every"hing in our organi:a"ion is .erfec", or "ha" "here are

no shor"co$ings an% faul"s) Nor can -e say "ha" our ran's are free fro$unsoun% an% even ba% ele$en"s, -ho $igh" be qui"e ca.able of any sor" of nas"iness) n o"her -or%s, our glorious Par"y con"ains so$e un%esirable

.heno$ena, so$e %ar' s.o"s -hich have alrea%y enu$era"e%)

No- -hen a fa$ily acquires an ugly soninla- or %augh"erinla-, i" canno" al-ays 'ee. hi$ or her a-ay fro$ "he gues"s) 6ven if -e -an"e% "o %o so

by "a'ing "he a""i"u%e of "rying "o Oconceal "he fa$ily sha$eO, i" -oul% be

i$.ossible "o hi%e such un.leasen"ness) +he $asses of "he .eo.le are in



cons"an" con"ac" -i"h our Par"y, sy$.a"hisers co$e here "o visi" us an%

.eo.le -ho loo' u. "o us inclu%ing $any young $en an% -o$en, co$e here

"o s"u%y or "o >oin our Par"y) /hen "hey arrive, besi%es "he .rogressive, finean% a""rac"ive "hings an% O$e$bers of "he fa$ilyO, "hey -ill na"urally see "he

ugly sons or %augh"ersinla- -ho $igh" .ublicly say or %o so$e"hing

un.leasan" or $a'e a s.ec"acle of "he$selves, "o "he .er.lei"y or our gues"s

an% ne- Par"y $e$bers) +he ne-co$ers $ay as', OEoes no" "he *o$$unis"Par"y s"an% for all "ha" is >us" Are *o$$unis"s no" "he fines" .eo.le /hy

are "here s"ill such ba% .eo.le an% ugly "hings in "he *o$$unis" Par"y #o-s"rangeO (efore >oining "he Par"y, so$e young co$ra%es -ere bi""erly

%issa"isfie% -i"h eis"ing socie"y, sa- no -ay ou" an% "urne% "o "he*o$$unis" Par"y as "o a beacon of ligh") +hey "hough" "ha" every"hing -oul%

be sa"isfac"ory an% -oul% -or' ou" -ell once "hey >oine%) e" af"er %oing so,

or af"er arriving in our revolu"ionary base area, "hey fin% "here are

shor"co$ings an% $is"a'es in "he Par"y, "oo, an% in real life no" every"hing issa"isfac"ory ?$uch "ha" -oul% sa"isfy "he$ -oul% no" be in "he in"eres"s of

"he revolu"ion an% "he Par"y@, an% so "hey feel reali"y is no" en"irely as "hey .ic"ure% i", an% so$e begin "o have %oub"s an% feel .u::le%) +hey as', O/hy

are such "hings "o be foun% in "he *o$$unis" Par"y as -ellO (efore co$ing

"o an5an or before enrolling in "he An"iJa.anese &ili"ary an% Poli"ical*ollege, so$e .eo.le i$agine% an5an an% "he *ollege -oul% live u. "o "heir

%rea$s, bu" af"er "heir arrival an% enrol$en" "hey %o no" fin% every"hing "o

"heir sa"isfac"ion an% are .er.lee%) +hey as', O#o- can such "hings ha..en

even in an5an an% "he An"iJa.anese *ollegeO An% failing "o fin% ans-ers,so$e even beco$e .essi$is"ic an% %ishear"ene%)

+heir ques"ions shoul% aler" our Par"y $e$bers an% ca%res an% be a lesson"o "he$ so "ha" "hey -ill give serious a""en"ion "o gui%ing an% "a'ing care of

all ne- Par"y $e$bers an% all -ho are $oving in our %irec"ion an% "o

ensuring "hey are no" a%versely affec"e%) (u", qui"e a.ar" fro$ "his, -e shoul%e.lain "hings clearly "o co$ra%es insi%e an% ou"si%e "he Par"y)

/hy are "here s"ill such un%esirable "hings in our s.len%i% Par"y +hereason, "hin', is ra"her si$.le) 7ur Par"y has no" fallen fro$ "he s'ies, bu"has gro-n ou" of *hinese socie"y) n general, our Par"y consis"s of "he fines"

sons an% %augh"ers of our coun"ry, "he vanguar% of "he *hinese .role"aria",

bu" "hey co$e fro$ all s"ra"a of "he ol% socie"y, an% in *hina "o%ay "here s"illeis"s e.loi"ing classes an% "he influence of "hese classes selfishness,

in"rigue, bureaucracy an% various "y.es of fil"h) /e have $any ecellen"

Par"y $e$bers -ho are no" easily affec"e% by such influences) (u" i" is so



s"range "ha" cer"ain $e$bers bring so$e of "he fil"h of "he ol% socie"y -i"h

"he$ in"o our Par"y of reflec" i" "here s i" so s"range "ha" a .erson "ha" has

>us" cra-le% ou" of "he $u% is covere% -i"h sli$e 7f course no") " is only "o be e.ec"e%) " -oul% be s"range an% in%ee% incre%ible, if "he ran's of "he

*o$$unis" Par"y -ere absolu"ely free fro$ such fil"h) " $ay be sai% "ha" so

long as such fil"h eis"s in socie"y, so long as classes an% e.loi"ing class

influences eis" in socie"y, "here is boun% "o be so$e fil"h in "he *o$$unis"Par"y) " is .recisely because "here is such fil"h in socie"y, an% in "he Par"y,

"ha" i" is "he %u"y of "he co$$unis" Par"y "o change eis"ing socie"y, an% i" isnecessary for *o$$unis"s "o re$oul%, cul"iva"e an% "e$.er "he$selves) n

a%%i"ion "o carrying on a s"ruggle in socie"y a" large agains" every"hing evilan% bac'-ar%,, i" is i$.era"ive for us "o carry on a s"ruggle insi%e "he Par"y

agains" every social evil an% bac'-ar% influence as $irrore% in "he Par"y by

vacilla"ing an% uns"ea%y ele$en"s) +his is "he source of innerPar"y

con"ra%ic"ion an% s"ruggle) +hrough s"ruggle, bo"h insi%e an% ou"si%e "hePar"y, -e see' "o change socie"y an% gra%ually ri% i" of i"s evils an%

bac'-ar%ness, an% a" "he sa$e "i$e see' "o .erfec" our Par"y an% re$oul%our Par"y $e$bers, an% "o resolve our innerPar"y con"ra%ic"ions, so "ha" our

Par"y an% i"s $e$bershi. -ill beco$e heal"hier an% s"ronger)

S"alin sai%<

+he source of "he con"ra%ic"ion -i"hin "he .role"arian .ar"ies lies in "-o

circu$s"ances)

/ha" are "hese circu$s"ances

+hey are firs"ly "he .ressure eer"e% by "he bourgeoisie an% bourgeoisi%eology on "he .role"aria" an% i"s .ar"y in "he con%i"ions of "he class s"ruggle

a .ressure "o -hich "he leas" s"able s"ra"a of "he .role"aria", an% hence "he

leas" s"able s"ra"a of "he .role"arian .ar"y, no" infrequen"ly succu$b) " $us"no" be "hough" "ha" "he .role"aria" is co$.le"ely isola"e% fro$ socie"y, "ha" i"

s"an%s ou"si%e socie"y) +he .role"aria" is a .ar" of socie"y, connec"e% -i"h i"s

%iverse s"ra"a by nu$erous "hrea%s) (u" "he .ar"y is a .ar" of "he .role"aria"#ence "he Par"y canno" be ee$." fro$ connec"ions -i"h, an% fro$ "he

influence of, "he %iverse sec"ions of "he bourgeois socie"y +he .ressure of "he bourgeoisie an% i"s i%eology on "he .role"aria" an% i"s .ar"y fin%s e.ression

in "he fac" "ha" bourgeois i%eas, $anners, cus"o$s an% sen"i$en"s no"

infrequen"ly .ene"ra"e "he .role"aria" an% i"s .ar"y "hrough %efini"e s"ra"a of "he .role"aria" "ha" are in one -ay or ano"her connec"e% -i"h bourgeois

socie"y)



+hey are, secon%ly, "he he"erogenei"y of "he -or'ing class, "he eis"ence of

a %ifferen" s"ra"a -i"hin "he -or'ing class))))

7ne s"ra"u$ is "he $ain $ass of "he .role"aria", i"s core, i"s .er$anen" .ar","he $ass of O.ure bloo%e%O .role"arians, -ho have long bro'en off

connec"ion -i"h "he ca.i"alis" class) +his s"ra"u$ of "he .role"aria" is "he $os"

reliable bul-ar' of &aris$)

+he secon% s"ra"u$ consis"s of ne- co$ers fro$ non.role"arian classes fro$ "he .easan"ry, "he .e""y bourgeoisie or "he in"elligencia) +hese are

for$er $e$bers of o"her classes -ho have only recen"ly $erge% -i"h "he .role"aria" an% brough" -i"h "he$ in"o "he -or'ing class "heir cus"o$s, "heir

habi"s, "heir -averings an% "heir vacilla"ions) +his s"ra"u$ cons"i"u"es "he

$os" favourable soil for all sor"s of anarchis", se$ianarchis" an% Oul"raLef"Ogrou.s)

+he "hir% s"ra"u$, las"ly, consis"s of "he labour aris"ocracy, "he u..er

s"ra"u$ of "he -or'ing class, "he $os" -ell"o%o .or"ion of "he .role"aria",

-i"h i"s .ro.ensi"y for co$.ro$ise -i"h "he bourgeoisie, i"s .re%o$inan"inclina"ion "o a%a." i"self "o "he .o-ers "ha" be, an% i"s anie"y go Oge" on in

lifeO) +his s"ra"u$ cons"i"u"es "he $os" favourable soil for ou"righ" refor$is"san% o..or"unis"s)1

#ere -e see "he source of "he various 'in%s of non.role"arian i%eology

an% "he various errors, shor"co$ings an% un%esirable .heno$ena "ha" eis" inour .role"arian .ar"y) #ere, in%ee%, is "he source of "he various con"ra%ic"ions"ha" are .resen" in our Par"y)

1) J) ) S"alin, ≴7nce &ore on "he SocialEe$ocra"ic Eevia"ion in 7ur

Par"y≵, Works, 6ng) e%), FLP#, &osco-, 19K, ol) 8, ..) 911)

IX. Attitudes Towards Wrong Ideology in the Party andTowards Inner-Party Struggle

+he influences eer"e% by "he e.loi"ing classes an% "he .e""y bourgeoisie,

"he eis"ence of %ifferen" s"ra"a -i"hin "he -or'ing class an% "he %ifferences

in "he class bac'groun% of our Par"y $e$bers give rise "o %ifferen" i%easa$ong "he$, "o cer"ain %ifferences in vie-.oin"s, habi"s an% sen"i$en"s, in







-orl% ou"loo' an% $oral values, an% %ifferences in "he -ay "hey loo' a" an%

"hin' abou" "hings in general an% "he .roble$s of "he revolu"ion in .ar"icular)

So$e .eo.le in our Par"y are able "o vie- issues as %evelo.ing an%in"errela"e%, bu" o"hers habi"ually vie- "he$ s"a"is"ically an% in isola"ion) +he

for$er are able "o gras. $a""ers co$.rehensively an% ob>ec"ively an% hence

"o %ra- correc" conclusions "ha" can serve us as correc" gui%e lines "o ac"ion)As for "he la""er, so$e of "he$ only see or over e$.hasi:e "his si%e of a

"hing, -hile o"hers only see an% over e$.hasi:e "he o"her si%e= bo"h fail "o

vie- .roble$s co$.rehensively an% ob>ec"ively in accor%ance -i"h "he la-sof "he %evelo.$en" an% in"errela"ionshi. of ob>ec"ive .heno$ena, an% bo"h

"a'e a onesi%e%, sub>ec"ive vie- of .roble$s) #ence, "hey are unable "o

arrive a" correc" conclusions or char" "he righ" course for our ac"ions)

+he %ifferences a$ong Par"y $e$bers in "heir a..roach "o .roble$s lea%

"o %ifferen" -ays of han%ling .roble$s, "o %ivergences an% con"roversies are boun% "o beco$e es.ecially acu"e a" "urning .oin"s in "he revolu"ion, or -hen"he s"ruggle gro-s in in"ensi"y an% har%shi. $oun")

+herefore, "he cru of "he $a""er is no" -he"her "here are %ifferences of

"hough" an% o.inion -i"hin "he Par"y, since such %ifferences al-ays eis")+he cru of "he $a""er is ho- "o resolve con"ra%ic"ions, se""le %ifferences an%

overco$e all 'in%s of incorrec", non.role"arian "hin'ing) 7bviously, i" is

only "hrough innerPar"y s"ruggle "ha" such con"ra%ic"ions can be resolve%,%ifferences se""le% an% incorrec" "hin'ing overco$e) As 6ngels .u" i", Bn "helong run "he con"ra%ic"ions are never slurre% over, bu" al-ays fough" ou")C 1

Eifferen" .eo.le hol% %ifferen" vie-s an% "a'e %ifferen" a""i"u%es -i"h

regar% "o shor"co$ings, $is"a'es an% o"her un%esirable .heno$ena in our Par"y)

Peo.le of one 'in% %o no" or -ill no" see shor"co$ings, $is"a'es an% o"her

un%esirable .heno$ena in our Par"y, bu" blin%ly believe "ha" "here is scarcelyany"hing -rong in i"= hence "hey rela "heir vigilance an% slac'en "heir

s"ruggle "heir s"ruggle agains" "hese .heno$ena) Peo.le of ano"her 'in% see

no"hing, or har%ly any"hing, ece." "hese un%esirable .heno$ena an% fail "osee ho- correc" an% glorious our Par"y is= hence "hey beco$e .essi$is"ic an%

loose confi%ence, or "hey beco$e alar$e% an% be-il%ere% in "he face of such

.heno$ena) +he vie-s of bo"h are -rong an% onesi%e%) 7ur vie- is%ifferen")) 7n "he one han%, -e 'no- -e 'no- "ha" our Par"y is "he .oli"ical

.ar"y of "he .role"aria", "he $os" .rogressive an% revolu"ionary .ar"y in





*hina) 7n "he o"her, -e 'no- clearly "ha" "here are s"ill shor"co$ings,

$is"a'es an% o"her un%esirable .heno$ena, $a>or an% $inor in our Par"y)

&oreover, -e clearly un%ers"an% "heir source an% ho- "o correc" an%gra%ually eli$ina"e "he$, an% -e are $a'ing cons"an" effor"s "o "e$.er

ourselves, i$.rove our -or' an% -age "he necessary s"ruggles in or%er "o

.ro$o"e "he .rogress of "he Par"y an% "he revolu"ion)

Since .eo.le %iffer in "heir class s"an% an% "heir vie-s, "hey "a'e %ifferen"

a""i"u%es "o-ar%s -ha" is un%esirable in our Par"y) 7ne a""i"u%e is "ha" of alien

class an% hos"ile ele$en"s -ho have -or$e% "heir -ay in"o our Par"y) Asecon% a""i"u%e is "ha" of Par"y $e$bers -ho lac' a fir$ .role"arian s"an%

an% have a -rong -ay of "hin'ing) A "hir% is "ha" of Par"y $e$bers -ho

fir$ly u.hol% "he .rinci.les of &aris$Leninis$)

+he alien class an% hos"ile ele$en"s -ho have -or'e% "heir -ay in"o "he

Par"y are gla% of i"s shor"co$ings, $is"a'es an% o"her un%esirable .heno$ena) 4leefully see'ing "heir o..or"uni"y, "hey use every .ossible$eans "o e.loi" an% $agnify so$e of "hese un%esirable .heno$ena for "he

.ur.ose of -rec'ing our Par"y) So$e"i$es "hey even $a'e a .re"ence of

o..osing cer"ain $is"a'es an% su..or"ing "he Par"y line in or%er "o cause ano..osi"e 'in% of $is"a'e "o be co$$i""e%) Peo.le -i"h "he secon% "y.e of

a""i"u%e fall in"o "he follo-ing %is"inc" ca"egories<

1) So$e Par"y $e$bers sy$.a"hi:e -i"h an% acce." cer"ain erroneousi%eas, or follo- "he ba% ea$.le of cer"ain .eo.le in "he Par"y, so as "o

fur"her "heir .ersonal en%s an% %esires) +hey consi%er"he eis"ence of cer"ain

shor" co$ings an% $is"a'es in "he Par"y "o be "o "heir a%van"age an%"herefore, -he"her in"en"ionally or unin"en"ionally, aggrava"e "hese failings

an% e.loi" "he$) +his is "he a""i"u%e of careeris"s of ba% charac"ers in "he

Par"y)

2) So$e Par"y $e$bers %o no"hing abou" "he shor"co$ings, $is"a'es an%

o"her un%esirable .heno$ena in "he Par"y an% allo- "he$ "o gro-) +hey >us"$u%%le along an% are un-illing "o figh" "hese evils) +hey fear innerPar"ys"ruggle an% selfcri"icis$, consi%ering "he$ har$ful "o "he Par"y, or "hey are

insensi"ive or shu" "heir eyes "o "he un%esirable "hings, or "hey are

.erfunc"ory an% co$.ro$ising in "he s"ruggle agains" "he$) +his is "hea""i"u%e "a'en by *o$$unis"s -ho have a -ea' sense of %u"y "o-ar%s "he

Par"y, are e"re$ely liberalis"ic, or are guil"y of bureaucracy)



3) +he a""i"u%e of so$e Par"y $e$bers "o-ar%s "hese shor"co$ings an%

$is"a'es an% "o-ar%s "hose co$ra%es -ho have incorrec" i%eas is one of

Bbi""er ha"re% an% gallC) +hey ligh"ly sever all rela"ions -i"h co$ra%es -hohave co$$i""e% so$e $is"a'e an% -ho$ "hey a""e$." "o e.el fro$ "he

Par"y ou"righ") f "hey fail in "his an% nee% rebuffs, "hey give u. an% beco$e

.essi$is"ic an% %o-nhear"e%, or "hey 'ee. aloof, B.reserve "heir .uri"yC an%

even .u" a grea" %is"ance be"-een "he$selves an% "he Par"y) +his e"re$ea""i"u%e is also sho-n in so$e co$ra%esQ $echanical conce."ion of inner

Par"y s"ruggle an% selfcri"icis$) Peo.le -i"h "his a""i"u%e believe "ha" innerPar"y s"ruggle $us" be launche% un%er any an% all circu$s"ances "he $ore

frequen"ly an% bi""erly, "he be""er) +hey $agnify every "rifle in"o a $a""er of B.rinci.leC an% bran% every "iny faul" -i"h such labels as .oli"ical

o..or"unis$) +hey %o no" carry on innerPar"y s"ruggle .ro.erly an%

s.ecifically in accor%ance -i"h "he ob>ec"ive nee%s an% ob>ec"ive la-s of

%evelo.$en", bu" ins"ea% Bs"ruggleC $echanically, sub>ec"ively an% violen"ly,regar%less of "he consequences) +his is "he a""i"u%e "a'en by Par"y $e$bers

-ho %o no" un%ers"an% "he source of innerPar"y con"ra%ic"ions, -ho lac' s'ill in %ealing -i"h innerPar"y %ifferences an% -ho have a $echanical

conce."ion of innerPar"y s"ruggle) For a "i$e, "his e"re$e a""i"u%e "o-ar%s

innerPar"y s"ruggle -as e.loi"e% by "he BLef"C o..or"unis"s in "he Par"y)+hey in"ensifie% $echanical an% ecessive s"ruggles "o "he .oin" of

%elibera"ely hun"ing for B"arge"s of s"ruggleC -i"hin "he Par"y, %elibera"ely

crea"ing innerPar"y s"ruggles, .unishing co$ra%es by abusing Par"y

%isci.linary $easures an% even e$.loying agains" "he$ $easures a..licable"o s"ruggles ou"si%e "he Par"y= an% i" -as by such Bs"rugglesC an%

B%isci.linary $easuresC "ha" "hey "rie% "o .ush "he -or' ahea%)

+he a""i"u%e -e shoul% a%o." is "he .role"arian &aris"Leninis" one)

*on"rary "o "he erroneous a""i"u%es %escribe% above, -e a%voca"e "he

follo-ing)

1) Firs" of all, ge" "o 'no- "he various .heno$ena, i%eas, vie-s an%

o.inions in "he Par"y an% %is"inguish "hose -hich are correc" an% beneficial "o"he in"eres"s of "he Par"y an% "he revolu"ion fro$ "hose -hich are no", or, in"he case of a %is.u"e in -hich bo"h si%es are -rong, .erceive "his an% be able

"o .oin" ou" "he correc" vie- or o.inion) Af"er sober analysis an%

consi%era"ion, %eci%e on a clearcu" a""i"u%e an% "a'e a correc" s"an%) Eo no"follo- blin%ly or %rif" -i"h "he "i%e)



2) Profi" by every goo% ea$.le, .ro$o"e an% s.rea% a s.iri" of in"egri"y in

"he Par"y an% vigorously su..or" all correc" vie-s an% o.inions) Eo no"

follo- any ba% ea$.les or be influence% by any -rong i%eas)

3) Eo no" "a'e a liberalis"ic a""i"u%e or flinch fro$ any necessary inner

Par"y s"ruggle) *arry on an irreconcilable s"ruggle in "he Par"y agains" i%eas

an% vie-s -hich are -rong in .rinci.le an% agains" all o"her un%esirable .heno$ena, so "ha" -e can cons"an"ly $ove "o overco$e "he$= "hey shoul%

never be allo-e% "o %evelo. unchec'e% "o "he %e"ri$en" of "he Par"y an% "he

revolu"ion)

) Eo no" "a'e a $echanical an% e"re$e a""i"u%e) Pro.erly co$bine

irreconcilabili"y an% clari"y in $a""ers of .rinci.le -i"h fleibili"y an% .a"ien"

.ersuasion in $e"ho%s of s"ruggle= in "hecourse of .rolonge% s"ruggles,e%uca"e, cri"ici:e, "e$.er an% re$oul% co$ra%es -ho have co$$i""e% errors

bu" -ho are no" incorrigible) Such innerPar"y i%eological s"ruggles on$a""ers of .rinci.le as are necessary a" %ifferen" .erio%s shoul% be -age% in aconcre"e an% .ro.er -ay= innerPar"y s"ruggles shoul% no" be -age%

in%iscri$ina"ingly, sub>ec"ively,, $echanically or on sha%o-y .re"e"s) Eo

no" beco$e Bs"ruggle a%%ic"sC)

K) S"reng"hen "he uni"y an% %isci.line of "he Par"y an% enhance i"s .res"ige

"hrough innerPar"y s"ruggle) 7rgani:a"ional .enal"ies, ranging all "he -ay "o

e.ulsion, shoul% be a..lie% "o "he incorrigible ele$en"s of "he Par"y) /eshoul% regar% i" as our su.re$e %u"y "o safeguar% "he Par"y;s uni"y, .reserve

"he .uri"y of i"s i%eology an% consoli%a"e i"s organi:a"ion)

Such is "he a""i"u%e of all goo% *o$$unis"s in "he Par"y an% in%ee% "he

only correc" &aris"Leninis" a""i"u%e)

" is no" s"range "ha" our ene$ies shoul% see' "o $a'e use of our every

shor"co$ing an% $is"a'e "o un%er$ine our Par"y) (esi%es cons"an"ly

shar.ening our vigilance, -e shoul% %o every"hing .ossible "o give "heene$y as li""le o..or"uni"y as .ossible "o e.loi" shor"co$ings an% $is"a'es

in "he Par"y -henever "hey occur= "his is "he %u"y of every co$ra%e -ho

cherishes "he Par"y) f a Par"y $e$ber ignores "his consi%era"ion in innerPar"y s"ruggle, if he only see's "o ven" his feelings, or goes "o "he leng"h of

>oining u. -i"h ba% ele$en"s ins"ea% of re>ec"ing "heir assis"ance, or even

$a'es use of ou"si%e forces "o hel. hi$ a""ain so$e .riva"e en%s -i"hin "hePar"y, he -ill be $a'ing an un.ar%onable breach of %isci.line)



&e$bers of our Par"y shoul% be "he e$bo%i$en" of correc" i%eology an%

shoul% follo- goo% ea$.les in "he Par"y= "hey shoul% no" follo- bu" o..ose

-rong i%eas an% ba% ea$.les) (u" -ha" ac"ually ha..ens is "ha" so$eco$ra%es "ha" are generally correc" in "heir i%eology an% follo- goo%

ea$.les, so$e"i$es reflec" cer"ain -rong i%eas an% follo- cer"ain ba%

ea$.les) 7"her co$ra%es see$ "o fin% i" easy "o learn fro$ ba% bu" har% "o

learn fro$ goo%, an% "his $eri"s our serious a""en"ion) /hen $is"a'es occur in "he Par"y, "hey are a." "o encourage or aggrava"e "he$, in"en"ionally of

unin"en"ionally) n innerPar"y s"ruggles "hey are a." "o "a'e "he -rong si%e or "o go along -i"h -hichever si%e is curren"ly in vogue), irres.ec"ive of righ"

an% -rong) +hese co$ra%es -ill har%ly $a'e .rogress unless "hey receives"ric" cri"icis$ an% rigorous "e$.ering)

7f course co$ra%es -ho a%o." a liberalis"ic or bureaucra"ic a""i"u%e

"o-ar%s shor"co$ings, $is"a'es an% o"her un%esirable .heno$enon insi%e

"he Par"y are also -rong) +his, "hin' shoul% be qui"e clear "o you as s"u%en"sof "he ns"i"u"e of &aris$Leninis$) For in "he Par"y buil%ing course -hich

you have s"u%ie%, "he necessi"y of selfcri"icis$ an% i%eological s"ruggle-i"hin "he Par"y is clearly an% "horoughly %iscusse%= you can go in"o i" again,

an% nee% no" -ell on "he $a""er fur"her) #o-ever, %o -an" "o .oin" ou"

"ha" qui"e a fe- co$ra%es have "his liberalis"ic a""i"u%e) /e of"en %o no" haveenough really res.onsible an% sincere cri"icis$ an% selfcri"icis$ con%uc"e%

in 'ee.ing -i"h "he Par"y;s organi:a"ional .rinci.les, for "he .ur.ose of

e.osing, correc"ing an% eli$ina"ing "he un%esirable .heno$ena in "he Par"y,an% $ore .ar"icularly -e %o no" have enough cri"icis$ fro$ belo- an% self

cri"icis$, bo"h of -hich -oul% be grea"ly encourage%) 7n "he o"her han%,

"here is qui"e a lo" of cri"icis$ "ha" is irres.onsible an% no" in 'ee.ing -i"h"he Par"y;s organi:a"ional .rinci.les, of "al'ing behin% .eo.leQs bac's an%

gossi. abou" "his or "ha" .erson or "hing) (o"h are $anifes"a"ions of

liberalis$ in "he Par"y) +hey sho- "ha" so$e of "he co$ra%es areinsufficien"ly $a"ure .oli"ically an% are no" courageous enough in

revolu"ionary s"ruggle= "hey also in%ica"e "ha" innerPar"y %e$ocracy has no"

been .ro.erly %evelo.e%) So$e co$ra%es %are no" %is.ense -i"h facesaving,an% fear "o offen% o"hers les" "hey "he$selves incur co$.lain"s an% coun"er

cri"icis$) +hey -oul% ra"her leave "he shor"co$ings an% $is"a'es alone,"a'ing "he a""i"u%e of Bge""ing byC an% B"he less "rouble "he be""erC, bu" a" "he

sa$e "i$e "hey "al' abou" co$ra%es behin% "heir bac's) All "his har$s "he

Par"y an% %oes i" no goo%) rres.onsible cri"icis$ an% "al' are no" li'ely "ooverco$e "he shor"co$ings an% $is"a'es in "he .ar"y bu" -ill lea% "o

un.rinci.le% %is.u"es an% %isuni"y) /e s"an% for innerPar"y cri"icis$ an%



selfcri"icis$ -hich is res.onsible an% beneficial "o "he Par"y an% is in

'ee.ing -i"h i"s organi:a"ional .rinci.les)

Shor"co$ings an% $is"a'es eis" in "he Par"y an% so %o incorrec" non .role"arian i%eas) Any of "hese $ay a" cer"ain "i$es %evelo. in"o a "ren%,

giving rise "o %ifferences of .rinci.le an% i$.aring "he Par"yQs uni"y of

ac"ion) #ence i" is i$.ossible "o e%uca"e "he Par"y, "he .role"aria" an% "he$asses correc"ly if -e %o no" unfol% cri"icis$ an% selfcri"icis$, cons"an"ly

e.ose an% correc" shor" co$ings an% $is"a'es, overco$e -rong i%eas an%

con%uc" innerPar"y s"ruggle "o resolve innerPar"y %ifferences, bu" ins"ea%"a'e a co$.ro$ising a""i"u%e an% follo- a B$i%%leC line, or "ry "o $u%%le

"hrough in innerPar"y s"ruggle)

Liberalis$ in innerPar"y s"ruggle is $anifes"e% in ye" ano"her -ay) +hus-hen a %is.u"e brea's ou" in "he Par"y, $any co$ra%es .u" asi%e "heir -or'

an% in%ulge in ai$less %eba"e for %ays an% $on"hs on en% or le" "he$selvesgo -i"hou" res"rain"= as a resul", "he uni"y of "he Par"y beco$es "he looser,Par"y %isci.line is -ea'ene%, "he Par"y;s .res"ige is i$.aire% an% our $ili"an"

Par"y organi:a"ions "urn in"o %eba"ing socie"ies) Such "hings have occurre%

$ore "han once in cer"ain Par"y organi:a"ions) +hey have absolu"ely no"hingin co$$on -i"h "he 'in% of cri"icis$ an% selfcri"icis$ -e a%voca"e) /e

nee% cri"icis$ an% selfcri"icis$, no" in or%er "o i$.air "he Par"y;s .res"ige,

un%er$ine i"s %isci.line an% -ea'en i"s lea%ershi., bu" in or%er "o .ro$o"e

"he Par"y;s .res"ige, consoli%a"e i"s %isci.line an% s"reng"hen i"s lea%ershi.)

#ence, i" is -rong "o a%o." a liberalis"ic or bureaucra"ic a""i"u%e "o-ar%s

"he various shor"co$ings an% $is"a'es in "he Par"y) n or%er "o figh" agains"all un%esirable .heno$ena an% resolve %ifferences, -e $us" .ro$o"e

cri"icis$ an% selfcri"icis$ an% con%uc" innerPar"y s"ruggle correc"ly) 7nly

"hen can "he .ar"y be s"reng"hene%, gro- an% a%vance)

*o$ra%es -ho "a'e an e"re$e a""i"u%e in innerPar"y s"ruggle are also

-rong)

+he e"re$e a""i"u%e is "he eac" an"i"hesis of "he liberalis"ic a""i"u%e) "

arises because "hese co$ra%es fail "o un%ers"an% "ha" -rong i%eas in "he Par"yhave %ee. social roo"s an% canno" .ossibly be eli$ina"e% a" one s"ro'e) A"

various "i$es an% in varying %egrees, $any of our Par"y co$ra%es $ay

reflec" cer"ain incorrec" i%eas eis"ing in socie"y an% $ay co$$i" so$e$is"a'es in "heir -or' un%er "he influence of non.role"arian i%eologies= no

co$ra%e can en"irely avoi% "his) f "he Par"y -ere "o refuse "o re"ain or



"olera"e all co$ra%es -ho reflec" non.role"arian i%eologies in so$e %egree,

or -ho have co$$i""e% so$e $is"a'es an% ye" are no" incorrigible, an% -ere

"o re>ec" "he$ ca"egorically an% even e.el "he$, "hen "he "as's of e%uca"ing"he co$ra%es an% consoli%a"ing "he Par"y;s organi:a"ion -oul% be

noneis"en") /ere our Par"y "o follo- such an e"re$e .olicy, "he co$ra%es

.ro$o"ing such ac"ions -oul% even"ually have "o be e.elle% "he$selves) n

.ar"icular, "hese co$ra%es fail "o un%ers"an% "ha" "he achieve$en" of co$$unis$ involves "he "re$en%ous an% %ifficul" "as' of "ransfor$ing all

$an'in% in"o "he selfless ci"i:enry of a co$$unis" socie"y, "he "as' of conver"ing $en -i"h "heir $any -ea'nesses in"o co$$unis"s -i"h a high

level of cul"ure "hrough a long .rocess of "e$.ering an% e%uca"ion in "hecourse of s"ruggle) f "hey %i% un%ers"an% "his, "hen "hey -oul% un%ers"an%

"ha" our Par"y has "he i$.or"an" an% cons"an" %u"y of e%uca"ing an%

re$oul%ing .eo.le -ho are alrea%y $e$bers bu" -hose i%eology is no"

-holly .role"arian)

Na"urally, "he e%uca"ion an% re$oul%ing of such Par"y $e$bers is a $os"

ar%uous "as' requiring .rolonge% an% .a"ien" effor") e" if -e are un-illing "o"ac'le "his %ifficul" "as' an% shrin' fro$ i", ho- can -e "al' abou" changing

"he -orl% an% all $an'in% Since -e are %e"er$ine% "o un%er"a'e, an% no" "o

shrin' fro$, "he un.rece%en"e%ly ar%uous "as' of changing "he -orl% an% all$an'in%, -ha" o"her "as' in "he -orl% "o%ay can %aun" us Par"y $e$bers

-ho have "he co$$unis" -orl% ou"loo' are %aun"less, fear no %ifficul"y or

har%shi., an% un%ers"an% "ha" "he .rocess of %evelo.$en" is "or"urous)*o$ra%es -ho "a'e an e"re$e a""i"u%e %o no" un%ers"an% "ha" "he

achieve$en" of co$$unis$ is an ar%uous an% "or"urous "as', "hey fear

%ifficul"ies an% crave a s"raigh" roa%, "hey -an" "o eli$ina"e every"hingun.leasan" a" one s"ro'e an% lea. i$$e%ia"ely in"o "he -orl% of "heir i%eals)

+hin'ing an% ac"ing in "his -ay, "hey inevi"ably run "heir hea%s agains" a

bric' -all) An% af"er banging an% bruising "heir hea%s, "hey qui"e of"en beco$e %ishear"ene% an% loose "heir confi%ence in "he fu"ure of co$$unis$)

+hus "hey s-ing be"-een e"re$es, fro$ BLef"C "o BRigh"C, "hereby

revealing "he essence of "heir non.role"arian i%eology) " is regre""able "ha""his erroneous, e"re$e a""i"u%e "o-ar%s innerPar"y shor"co$ings an%

$is"a'es shoul% s"ill be foun% "o a grea"er or lesser e"en" a$ong qui"e a fe-co$ra%es, al"hough i" is har$ful "o "he Par"y, "o o"her co$ra%es an% "o

"he$selves)

nnerPar"y s"ruggle is necessary no" because -e are sub>ec"ively a%%ic"e%

"o s"ruggle or .ar"ial "o %is.u"e, bu" because innerPar"y %ifferences of



.rinci.le %o arise in "he gro-"h of "he Par"y an% in "he .role"arian s"ruggle)

/hen "hey occur, Bcon"ra%ic"ions can be overco$e only by $eans of a

s"ruggle for %efini"e .rinci.les, for %efini"e ai$s of "he s"ruggle, for %efini"e$e"ho%s of -aging "he s"ruggle lea%ing "o "he %esire% ai$)C 2 *o$.ro$ise is

of no avail here) +his $eans "ha" -hen a %is.u"e has %evelo.e% in"o one of

.rinci.le -hich can only be resolve% "hrough s"ruggle, -e shoul%

unflinchingly -age innerPar"y s"ruggle in or%er "o resolve i") " %oes no"$ean "ha" -e shoul% $a'e a big fuss over s$all $a""ers, con%uc" innerPar"y

s"ruggle -i"h s"ony faces an% never co$.ro$ise even on rou"ine an% onques"ions of a .urely .rac"ical na"ure) B7ne can, an% one shoul% agree "o any

co$.ro$ise -i"h %issen"ers in "he .ar"y on ques"ions of curren" .olicy,, onques"ions of a .urely .rac"ical na"ure)C3

/hen o..or"unis" i%eas an% %ifferences of .rinci.le arise in "he Par"y, -e

$us", of course, -age s"ruggles "o overco$e "hose i%eas an% errors of

.rinci.le) +his %efian"ly %oes no" $ean "ha" -hen "here are no %ifferences of .rinci.les an% no o..or"unis" i%eas in "he Par"y, -e shoul% %elibera"ely

$agnify in"o B%ifferences of .rinci.leC %ivergences of o.inion a$ongco$ra%es on ques"ions of a .urely .rac"ical na"ure)

*o$ra%e &ao De%ong has sai%< B+he Par"y $us" on "he one han% -age a

serious s"ruggle agains" erroneous "hin'ing, an% on "he o"her give "he

co$ra%es -ho have co$$i""e% errors a$.le o..or"uni"y "o -a'e u.) +his

being "he case, ecessive s"ruggle is obviously ina..ro.ria"e)C4

" is necessary "o $a'e severe cri"icis$ of, or even "o a..ly organi:a"ional

.enal"ies "o, "hose co$ra%es -ho, af"er co$$i""ing o..or"unis" $is"a'es or o"her $is"a'es of .rinci.le, "urn a %eaf ear "o .ersuasion an% Par"y cri"icis$,

-ilfully an% obs"ina"ely cling "o "heir errors an% resis" Par"y .olicy, or

%oubleface% in "heir a""i"u%e) (u" if "hese co$ra%es %o no" cling "o "heir $is"a'es bu" are -illing "o correc" "he$ an% give u. "heir .revious .oin" of

vie- af"er sober %iscussion, .ersuasion an% cri"icis$, or if "hey coolly .on%er

over "heir $is"a'es or soberly %iscuss "he$ -i"h o"her co$ra%es, -e shoul%-elco$e every s$all sign of .rogress on "heir .ar" an% no" sub>ec" "he$ "o

.enal"ies un%iscri$ina"ingly) n cri"icis$ an% innerPar"y s"ruggle, i" is no"

"rue "ha" "he $ore s"onyface% -e are "he be""er, or "ha" "he $ore co$ra%es-e .unish "he be""er= our highes" ai$ is "o e%uca"e "he erring co$ra%es "o "he

bes" effec", hel. "he$ "o correc" "heir $is"a'es, e%uca"e "he en"ire$e$bershi. an% consoli%a"e "he Par"y)









+he BLef"C o..or"unis"s are clearly -rong in "heir a""i"u%e "o-ar%s inner

Par"y s"ruggle) Accor%ing "o "hese al$os" hys"erical .eo.le, any .eace in "he

Par"y -as in"olerable even .eace base% on co$.le"e unani$i"y on $a""ersof .rinci.le an on "he Par"y line) 6ven in "he absence of any %ifferences of

.rinci.le in "he Par"y, "hey %elibera"ely hun"e% ou" "arge"s, %ubbe% so$e

co$ra%es Bo..or"unis"C an% se" "he$ u. as Bs"ra- $enC "o shoo" a" in inner

Par"y s"ruggle) +hey "hough" "ha" such erroneous s"ruggle an% such shoo"inga" Bs"ra- $enC -ere "he $agic for$ula for %evelo.ing "he Par"y an%

achieving vic"ory in "he revolu"ionary figh" of "he .role"aria") +heyconsi%ere% "ha" "o s"ir u. "rouble ou" of no"hing or "o %elibera"ely concoc"

innerPar"y s"ruggle -as "he only B(olshevi'C -ay) 7f course, "his is no"serious an% earnes" innerPar"y s"ruggle= ra"her i" is a $oc'ery of "he Par"y

an% "he .erver"ing of innerPar"y s"ruggle, -hich is a $os" serious $a""er,

in"o a frivolous ga$e) +he a%voca"es of such ac"ion are no" (olshevi's a" all

bu" are ei"her .eo.le -ho are -ellnigh incorrigible or careeris"s e.loi"ing"he na$e B(olshevi'C)

/e have been %iscussing "he a""i"u%e "o be a%o."e% "o-ar%s shor"co$ings,$is"a'es an% o"her un%esirable .heno$ena in "he Par"y) " is by co$ba"ing all

"ha" is ba% insi%e an% ou"si%e "he Par"y "ha" -e change "he -orl% an%

$an'in% an% a" "he sa$e "i$e .erfec" "he Par"y an% re$oul% ourselves) nnerPar"y s"ruggle is a reflec"ion -i"hin "he Par"y of eis"ing con"ra%ic"ions in

socie"y be"-een classes an% be"-een ol% an% ne-) +he Par"y "e$.ers,

%evelo.s an% consoli%a"es i"self in "he class s"ruggle ou"si%e "he Par"y ?i)e), in"he revolu"ionary s"ruggles of "he $asses of "he .eo.le@ an% si$ul"aneously

beco$es consoli%a"e% an% uni"e% "hrough s"ruggle insi%e "he Par"y, an% is

"herefore able "o give $ore sys"e$a"ic, correc" an% effec"ive lea%ershi. "o "herevolu"ionary s"ruggle of "he $asses) #ence i" -oul% be u""erly -rong,

a%van"ageous "o "he ene$y, con"rary "o "he la-s of %evelo.$en" of "he class

s"ruggle an% inco$.a"ible -i"h our basic "hesis of "ransfor$a"ion of "he-orl% an% $an'in% "hrough s"ruggle, if -e -ere "o a%o." a liberal a""i"u%e

"o-ar%s shor"co$ings, $is"a'es an% o"her un%esirable .heno$ena in "he

Par"y by flossing over in"ernal %ifferences of .rinci.le, covering u. innerPar"y con"ra%ic"ions, eva%ing innerPar"y s"ruggle an% >us" $u%%ling along)

Si$ilarly, i" -oul% be -rong "o isola"e "he s"ruggle insi%e "he Par"y fro$ "heclass s"ruggle ou"si%e "he Par"y or "he revolu"ionary $ove$en" of "he $asses

an% "hus "urn innerPar"y s"ruggle in"o e$."y "al') n fac", i" is i$.ossible "o

"e$.er, %evelo. an% consoli%a"e "he .ar"y in isola"ion fro$ "he revolu"ionarys"ruggle of "he $asses) #o-ever, i" -oul% be equally -rong an% con"rary "o

"he la-s of %evelo.$en" of "he Par"y, if -e -ere "o carry $a""ers "o "he o"her



e"re$e an% a%o." an e"re$e a""i"u%e "o-ar%s all co$ra%es -ho have

shor"co$ings or have co$$i""e% errors bu" -ho are no" irre%ee$able, or if

-e -ere "o fail "o %is"inguish be"-een "he$ an% "he ene$y, con%uc"ing$echanical an% ecessive innerPar"y s"ruggles agains" "he$ an% -ilfully

fabrica"ing such s"ruggles) /e shoul% no" brea' -i"h co$ra%es -ho have

co$$i""e% errors bu" -ho are never"heless loyal) Ra"her, -e shoul% sho-

concern an% sy$.a"hy for "he$, .ersua%e an% e%uca"e "he$ an% hel. "he$"e$.er an% refor$ "he$selves in s"ruggle) /e shoul% no" cas"iga"e or e.el

"he$ unless "hey .ersis" in "heir $is"a'es an% .rove incorrigible)

Al"hough "here are s"ill so$e shor"co$ings an% $is"a'es, so$e isola"e%

$inor evils in our Par"y, -e are fully confi%en" "ha" -i"h "he a%vance of "he

-or'ingclass $ove$en" -e can an% -ill ge" ri% of "he$ "hrough "he grea"revolu"ionary s"ruggles of "he $asses) +he his"ory of nearly "-o %eca%es of

s"ruggle an% glorious .rogress by "he *hinese *o$$unis" Par"y an% "he

-orl%-i%e %evelo.$en" of "he -or'ingclass $ove$en", "horoughlyconvince us of "his)

nnerPar"y s"ruggle is an in%is.ensable co$.onen" of "he revolu"ionary

s"ruggle as a -hole) 7ur co$ra%es shoul% "herefore "e$.er an% cul"iva"e"he$selves bo"h in s"ruggles ou"si%e "he Par"y an% in "he s"ruggle on "-o

fron"s insi%e "he Par"y) A$ong $any Par"y co$ra%es, ho-ever, "here is s"ill

no genuinely .rofoun% a..recia"ion of such innerPar"y s"ruggle, an% "here is

insufficien" "e$.ering an% selfcul"iva"ion) +his is $anifes"e% no" only in "hefrequen" un.rinci.le% s"ruggles carrie% on by so$e co$ra%es bu" also in "he

fac" "ha" cer"ain co$ra%es, inclu%ing even so$e -i"h a fairly long his"ory of $ili"an" s"ruggle, canno" s"an% being cri"ici:e% of $is>u%ge%) /hen figh"ing

"he coun"errevolu"ion, "hey never -aver, co$.lain or feel %e>ec"e%, ho-ever ru"hless "he s"ruggle, ho-ever bi""er "he con%i"ions an% ho-ever vicious "he

ene$y;s blo-s) e" in innerPar"y s"ruggle "hey canno" s"an% being cri"ici:e%,

a""ac'e%, $is>u%ge% or -ronge%, or "olera"e even a single un.leasan" -or%)7r "hey sus.ec" .eo.le of $a'ing .oin"e% allusions "o "he$, an% so "hey

co$.lain an% feel very %e>ec"e%) /e $us" really five "his 'in% of "hing our a""en"ion)

" $us" be s"a"e% "ha" on "he -hole "hese co$ra%es are very goo% because"hey -age resolu"e s"ruggle agains" "he coun"errevolu"ionaries an% loo' u.on

"he Par"y as a $os" affec"iona"e $o"her) Af"er going ou" "o figh" har% ba""lesagains" "he coun"errevolu"ionaries "hey shoul% receive encourage$en",

consola"ion an% caresses, an% no" blo-s an% -rongs, -hen "hey re"urn "o



"heir grea" $o"her;s e$brace) " is only na"ural for "he$ "o e.ec" such

"rea"$en") #o-ever, "hey fail "o "a'e one .oin" in"o accoun", or fully in"o

accoun" "ha" our Par"y s"ill has shor"co$ings an% faul"s an% "ha" "here areinnerPar"y s"ruggles -hich every co$ra%e $us" "a'e .ar" in) 7ur Par"y

cri"icises an% co$ba"s shor"co$ings an% faul"s no" because i" is unfeeling bu"

because such ac"ion is unavoi%able in "he course of revolu"ionary s"ruggle) "

is necessary for co$ra%es in "he course of innerPar"y s"ruggle "o receive -ellfoun%e% cri"icis$, for i" is hel.ful "o "he$, "o "he o"her co$ra%es an% "o "he

-hole Par"y) 7n "he o"her han%, i" is also unavoi%able "ha" a" "i$es so$eco$ra%es -ill receive unfoun%e% cri"icis$s or be a""ac'e% on cer"ain $a""ers,

or -ill even be -rongly >u%ge% an% %isci.line%) Failing "o allo- for "his, "hey beco$e shoc'e% an% feel $os" $iserable an% %e>ec"e% -hen i" occurs)

n "his connec"ion, i" is $y o.inion "ha" every Par"y $e$ber shoul% .ay

a""en"ion "o uni"ing -i"h his co$ra%es, be sincere an% o.en,, refrain fro$

hur"ing o"hers by "hough"less or sarcas"ic re$ar's an%, in .ar"icular, refrainfro$ irres.onsibly cri"ici:ing co$ra%es behin% "heir bac's) +he .ro.er

a""i"u%e "o any co$ra%e;s $is"a'es is sincerely "o re$ons"ra"e -i"h hi$ an%cri"ici:e hi$ "o his face), ou" of concern for "he co$ra%e an% a %esire "o be of

hel.) All of us, an% es.ecially "hose in $ore res.onsible .osi"ions, $us" bear

"his in $in%)

7n "he o"her han%, i" is $y o.inion "ha" co$ra%es shoul% be $en"ally

.re.are% for innerPar"y s"ruggle, shoul% o.en$in%e%ly acce." all -ellgroun%e% cri"icis$ an% be able "o en%ure $isun%ers"an%ings or a""ac's, or

even unfairness an% in>us"ice= in .ar"icular, "hey shoul% no" ge" u.se" or eci"e% over irres.onsible an% un>us"ifie% cri"icis$ or ru$ours) As far as

irres.onsible $is>u%ge$en" an% cri"icis$ are concerne% "ha" is, eclu%ing .ro.erly con%uc"e% cri"icis$ a$ong co$ra%es or "hrough "he Par"y

organi:a"ion one can "ry an% clear "he $a""er u. or offer so$e e.lana"ion

-hen necessary, bu" if "ha" %oes no" hel., one $igh" >us" as -ell le" o"hers say-ha" "hey .lease, .rovi%e% "here is no"hing -rong in one;s "hin'ing an%

behaviour) Le" us re$e$ber "he *hinese sayings< B/ho never gossi.s abou"o"hers behin% "heir bac's or is never "he sub>ec" of gossi.C an% BNever $in%"he s"or$, >us" si" "igh" in "he fishing boa")C No one in "his -orl% can en"irely

avoi% being $isun%ers"oo%, bu" $isun%ers"an%ings can al-ays be cleare% u.

sooner or la"er) /e shoul% be able "o en%ure $isun%ers"an%ings an% shoul%never allo- ourselves "o be %ragge% in"o un.rinci.le% s"ruggle= a" "he sa$e

"i$e, -e shoul% be al-ays vigilan" an% 'ee. -a"ch over our o-n "hough"s

an% ac"ions)



+ha" is "o say, -e shoul% "a'e care no" "o use -or%s "ha" -oun% o"her

co$ra%es an% shoul% be able "o s"an% in>urious language fro$ o"hers)

/e are ra%ically o..ose% "o un.rinci.le% %is.u"es in "he Par"y) Since "heyare un.rinci.le%, "hey are useless an% har$ful "o "he Par"y, an% "here is

generally li""le of righ" or -rong, or goo% or ba%, abou" "he$) n such

un.rinci.le% s"ruggles, "herefore, "here is no .oin" in .assing >u%ge$en" as "o-ho is righ" an% -ho is -rong, or es"i$a"ing -ho is be""er an% -ho is -orse,

because "ha" is i$.ossible) All -e can %o is ra%ically "o o..ose s"ruggles of

"ha" 'in% an% as' "he co$ra%es involve% uncon%i"ionally "o s"o. "he$ an% ge" bac' "o .rinci.les) +his is "he .olicy -e shoul% a%o." "o-ar%s un.rinci.le%

%is.u"es an% s"ruggles) (u" -ha" is "o be %one if un.rinci.le% %is.u"es %o

arise an% if $any of "he$ ge" "angle% u. -i"h s"ruggles over .rinci.le /ha"shoul% be %one if such %is.u"es 'noc' a" our %oor an% -e ge" %ragge% in"o

"he$ All -e can %o in "ha" case is, again, "o .u" "he s"ress on "he ques"ions

of .rinci.le an% avoi% s"ressing "hose no" involving any .rinci.le) (asingourselves on "he .olicy ou"line% here, -e shoul% han%le such un.rinci.le%

%is.u"es s"ric"ly an% ourselves s"an% fir$ on "he .rinci.le fro$ beginning "oen%, refusing "o be %ragge% in"o "he un.rinci.le% %is.u"es) /hen so$e"hing

%oes go -rong "o you, %o no" "hro- bac' so$e"hing -rong a" hi$) Al-ays

s"an% by "he righ" "o o..ose "he -rong) So$e of our co$ra%es fin% i" very%ifficul" "o ac" in "his -ay, -hich sho-s -hy s.ecial a""en"ion "o self

"e$.ering an% selfcul"iva"ion is necessary)

Le" $e briefly su$ u. "he .oin"s %iscusse%)

+he ai$ of i%eological selfcul"iva"ion by $e$bers of "he *o$$unis" .ar"y is "o "e$.er "he$selves "o beco$e s"aunch an% u""erly %evo"e%

$e$bers an% ca%res of "he Par"y -ho $a'e cons"an" .rogress an% serve as

ea$.les for o"hers) /ha" is require% of us is "he follo-ing<

1) +o buil% u. our co$$unis" -orl% ou"loo' an% a fir$ Par"y an%

.role"arian class s"an%.oin" "hrough "he s"u%y of &aris$Leninis$ an% .ar"ici.a"ion in "he revolu"ionary s"ruggle)

2) +o ea$ine our o-n "hin'ing an% behaviour, "o correc" all erroneousi%eas an% a" "he sa$e "i$e "o >u%ge ques"ions an% >u%ge o"her co$ra%es on

"he basis of our co$$unis" -orl% ou"loo' an% our fir$ Par"y an% .role"arian

class s"an%.oin")



3) Al-ays "o a%o." a correc" a""i"u%e an% a..ro.ria"e $e"ho%s in "he

s"ruggle agains" erroneous i%eology in "he Par"y, an% es.ecially agains" "he

erroneous i%eology -hich affec"s "he curren" revolu"ionary s"ruggle)

) +o 'ee. a fir$ con"rol over ourselves in "hough", s.eech an% ac"ion,

es.ecially "o "a'e a fir$ s"an%.oin" an% a%here "o correc" .rinci.les -i"h

regar% "o .oli"ical i%eas, s"a"e$en"s an% ac"ivi"ies -hich are rela"e% "o "hecurren" revolu"ionary s"ruggle) n a%%i"ion, i" is as -ell "o be careful even

over B"riflesC ?in one5s .ersonal life, a""i"u%e, e"c)@) (u" as for $a'ing

%e$an%s on o"her co$ra%es, a.ar" fro$ $a""ers of .rinci.le an% $a>or .oli"ical ques"ions, -e shoul% no" be "oo severe or faul" fin%ing over B"riflesC)

n $y o.inion, "he above is -ha" -e $ean, fun%a$en"ally, -hen -e "al'

abou" i%eological selfcul"iva"ion by $e$bers of "he *o$$unis" Par"y)

1) See Mar1)2ngels Archives, (oo' , .) 31, quo"e% in J) )

S"alin, Works, 6ng) e%), FLP#, &osco-, 19K, ol) 8, ..) 911)

2) J) ) S"alin, ≴7nce &ore on "he SocialEe$ocra"ic Eevia"ion in 7ur

Par"y≵, Works, 6ng) e%), FLP#, &osco-, 19K, ol) 8, .) )

3) I'id(

) B7n *on"ra%ic"ionC, Selected Works of Mao Zedong, 6ng) e%), FLP,(ei>ing, 19K, ol) , .) 3K)









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