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The Physics of Mao item 27

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     27. CRITICISM AND SELF-CRITICISM


     The Communist Party does not fear criticism because we are 
Marxists, the truth is on our side, and the basic masses, the workers 
and peasants, are on our side.

         Speech at the Chinese Communist Party's National Conference on 
Propaganda Work  (March 12, 1957), 1st pocket ed., p. 14.

     Thoroughgoing materialists are fearless; we hope that all our 
fellow fighters will courageously shoulder their responsibilities and 
overcome all difficulties, fearing no setbacks or gibes, nor hesitating 
to criticize us Communists and give us their suggestions. "He who is not 
afraid of death by a thousand cuts dares to unhorse the emperor" - this 
is the indomitable spirit needed in our struggle to build socialism and 
communism.

         Ibid.,  p. 16.

     We have the Marxist-Leninist weapon of criticism and 
self-criticism. We can get tid of a bad style and keep the good.

         "Report to the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central 
Committee of the Communist Party of China" (March 5, 1949), Selected 
Works,  Vol. IV, p. 374.

     Conscientious practice of self-criticism is still another hallmark 
distinguishing our Party from all other political parties. As we say, 
dust will accumulate if a room is not cleaned regularly, our faces will 
get dirty if they are not washed regularly. Our comrades' minds and our 
Party's work may also collect dust, and also need sweeping and washing. 
The proverb "Running water is never stale and a door-hinge is never 
worm-eaten" means that constant motion prevents the inroads of germs and 
other organisms. To check up regularly on our work and in the process 
develop a democratic style of work, to fear neither criticism nor 
self-criticism, and to apply such good popular Chinese maxims as "Say 
all you know and say it without reserve", "Blame not the speaker but be 
warned by his words" and "Correct mistakes if you have committed them 
and guard against them if you have not" - this is the only effective way 
to prevent all kinds of political dust and germs from contaminating the 
minds of our comrades and the body of our Party.

         "On Coalition Government" (April 24, 1945), Selected Works, 
Vol. III, pp. 316-17.

     Opposition and struggle between ideas of different kinds constantly 
occur within the Party; this is a reflection within the Party of 
contradictions between classes and between the new and the old in 
society. If there were no contradictions in the Party and no ideological 
struggles to resolve them, the Party's life would corne to an end.

         "On Contradiction" (August 1937), Selected Works,  Vol. I, p. 317.

     We stand for active ideological struggle because it is the weapon 
for ensuring unity within the Party and the revolutionary organizations 
in the interest of our fight. Every Communist and revolutionary should 
take up this weapon.

     But liberalism rejects ideological struggle and stands for 
unprincipled peace, thus giving rise to a decadent, philistine attitude 
and bringing about political degeneration in certain units and 
individuals in the Party and the revolutionary organizations.

         "Combat Liberalism" (September 7, 1937), Selected Works,  Vol. 
II, p. 31.

     In opposing subjectivism, sectarianism and stereotyped Party 
writing we must have in mind two purposes: hrst, "learn from past 
mistakes to avoid future ones", and second, "cure the sickness to save 
the patient". The mistakes of the past must be exposed without sparing 
anyone's sensibilities; it is necessary to analyse and criticize what 
was bad in the past with a scientific attitude so that work in the 
future will be done more carefully and done better. This is what is 
meant by "learn from past mistakes to avoid future ones". But our aim in 
exposing errors and criticizing shortcomings, like that of a doctor 
curing a sickness, is solely to save the patient and not to doctor him 
to death. A person with appendicitis is saved when the surgeon removes 
his appendix. So long as a person who has made mistakes does not hide 
his sickness for fear of treatment or persist in his mistakes until he 
is beyond cure, so long as he honestly and sincerely wishes to be cured 
and to mend his ways, we should welcome him and cure his sickness so 
that he can become a good comrade. We can never succeed if we just let 
ourselves go and lash out at him. In treating an ideological or a 
political malady, one must never be rough and rash but must adopt the 
approach of "curing the sickness to save the patient", which is the only 
correct and effective method.

         "Rectify the Party's Style of Work" (February 1, 1942), 
Selected Works,  Vol. III, p. 50.*

     Another point that should be mentioned in connection with 
inner-Party criticism is that some comrades ignore the major issues and 
conhne their attention to minor points when they make their criticism. 
They do not understand that the main task of criticism is to point out 
political and organizational mistakes. As to personal shortcomings, 
unless they are related to political and organizational mistakes, there 
is no need to be overcritical or the comrades concerned will be at a 
loss as to what to do. Moreover, once such criticism develops, there is 
the great danger that within the Party attention will be concentrated 
exclusively on minor faults, and everyone will become timid and 
overcautious and forget the Party's political tasks.

         "On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party" (December 1929), 
Selected Works,  Vol. I, pp. 111-12.*

     In inner-Party criticism, guard against subjectivism, arbitrariness 
and the vulgarization of criticism; statements should be based on facts 
and criticism should stress the political side.

         Ibid.,  p. 112.*

     Inner-Party criticism is a weapon for strengthening the Party 
organization and increasing its hghting capacity. In the Party 
organization of the Red Army, however, criticism is not always of this 
character, and sometimes turns into personal attack. As a result, it 
damages the Party organization as well as individuals. This is a 
manifestation of petty-bourgeois individualism. The method of correction 
is to help Party members understand that the purpose of criticism is to 
increase the Party's fighting capacity in order to achieve victory in 
the class struggle and that it should not be used as a means of personal 
attack.

         Ibid.,  p. 110.

     If we have shortcomings, we are not afraid to have them pointed out 
and criticized, because we serve the people. Anyone, no matter who, may 
point out our shortcomings. If he is right, we will correct them. If 
what he proposes will benefit the people, we will act upon it.

         "Serve the People" (September 8, 1941), Selected Works,  Vol. 
III, P. 227.

     As we Chinese Communists, who base all our actions on the highest 
interests of the broadest masses of the Chinese people and who are fully 
convinced of the justice of our cause, never balk at any personal 
sacrifice and are ready at all times to give our lives for the cause, 
can we be reluctant to discard any idea, viewpoint, opinion or method 
which is not suited to the needs of the people? Can we be willing to 
allow political dust and germs to dirty our clean faces or eat into our 
healthy organisms? Countless revolutionary martyrs have laid down their 
lives in the interests of the people, and our hearts are filled with 
pain as we the living think of them - can there be any personal 
interest, then, that we would not sacrifice or any error that we would 
not discard?

         "On Coalition Government" (April 24, 1945), Selected Works, 
Vol. III, p. 317.*

     We must not become complacent over any success. We should check our 
complacency and constantly criticize our shortcomings, just as we should 
wash our faces or sweep the floor every day to remove the dirt and keep 
them clean.

         "Get Organized!" (November 29, 1943), Selected Works,  Vol. 
III. p. 160.*

     As for criticism, do it in good time; don't get into the habit of 
criticizing only after the event.

         On the Question of Agricultural Co-operation  (July 31, 1955), 
3rd ed., p. 25.

     Taught by mistakes and setbacks, we have become wiser and handle 
our affairs better. It is hard for any political party or person to 
avoid mistakes, but we should make as few as possible. Once a mistake is 
made, we should correct it, and the more quickly and thoroughly the better.

         "On the People's Democratic Dictatorship" (June 30, 1949), 
Selected Works,  Vol. IV, p. 422.

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