» There is in fact no such thing as art for art's sake, art that stands above classes, art that is detached from or independent of politics. Proletarian literature and art are part of the whole proletarian revolutionary cause.
» Our attitude towards ourselves should be ''to be satiable in learning'' and towards others ''to be tireless in teaching.''
» An army without culture is a dull-witted army, and a dull-witted army cannot defeat the enemy.
» To read too many books is harmful.
» Classes struggle, some classes triumph, others are eliminated. Such is history; such is the history of civilization for thousands of years.
» Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy.
» All reactionaries are paper tigers.
» Letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend is the policy for promoting the progress of the arts and the sciences and a flourishing culture in our land.
» If you want to know the taste of a pear, you must change the pear by eating it yourself. If you want to know the theory and methods of revolution, you must take part in revolution. All genuine knowledge originates in direct experience.
» I have witnessed the tremendous energy of the masses. On this foundation it is possible to accomplish any task whatsoever.