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

Historical experience is written in blood and iron.

Firstly, do not fear hardship, and secondly, do not fear death.

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

We stand for self-reliance. We hope for foreign aid but cannot be dependent on it; we depend on our own efforts, on the creative power of the whole army and the entire people.

There is turmoil under the heavens. The prospects are excellent.

After the enemies with guns have been wiped out, there will still be enemies without guns; they are bound to struggle desperately against us, and we must never regard these enemies lightly. If we do nor now raise and understand the problem in this way, we shall commit the gravest mistakes.