A revolution
is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture,
or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle,
so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. A revolution
is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows
another.
— From Report on an Investigation of the Peasant Movement
in Hunan
The revolutionary war is a war of the masses; it can be waged only
by mobilizing the masses and relying on them.
— From Be Concerned with the Well-Being of the Masses,
Pay Attention to Methods of Work
War is the highest form of struggle for resolving contradictions,
when they have developed to a certain stage, between classes, nations,
states, or political groups, and it has existed ever since the emergence
of private property and of classes.
— From Problems of Strategy in China's Revolutionary War
Every Communist must grasp the truth, "Political power grows
out of the barrel of a gun."
— From Problems of War and Strategy
Our Principle is that the Party commands the gun, and the gun must
never be allowed to command the Party.
— From Problems of War and Strategy