--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must make a clear distinction between…" description: "\"We must make a clear distinction between the nature of Chairman Mao's mistakes and the crimes of Lin Biao and the Gang of Four. For most of his life, C..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/deng-xiaoping-12190_chairman_we-must-make-a-clear-distinction-between_2382964.jpg" --- # We must make a clear distinction between the nature of… ![“We must make a clear distinction between the nature of Chairman Mao's mistakes and the crimes of Lin Biao and the Gang of Four. For most of his life, Chairman Mao did very good things. Many times he saved the Party and the state from crisis. Without him the Chinese people would, at the very least…” quote by Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/deng-xiaoping-12190_chairman_we-must-make-a-clear-distinction-between_2382964.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/deng-xiaoping-12190_chairman_we-must-make-a-clear-distinction-between_2382964.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/deng-xiaoping-12190_chairman_we-must-make-a-clear-distinction-between_2382964.jpg) > “We must make a clear distinction between the nature of Chairman Mao's mistakes and the crimes of Lin Biao and the Gang of Four. For most of his life, Chairman Mao did very good things. Many times he saved the Party and the state from crisis. Without him the Chinese people would, at the very least, have spent much more time groping in the dark.” [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Distinguishes Mao’s positive contributions from later severe errors, arguing that without Mao the nation would have faced greater darkness. **In simple terms:** Mao helped China, but later leaders made worse mistakes; without Mao, China would be darker. Key Takeaway Balance recognition of past benefits with critique of later abuses. Themes politics history leadership reform China Mood analytical critical thoughtful Type historical political educational When to use this quote - policy analysis - educational curricula - public discourse - comparative political studies - leadership training Key Concepts Mao’s legacy political accountability historical context Questions to Reflect On - What lessons can modern leaders learn from Mao’s mixed legacy? - How should societies reconcile beneficial and harmful actions of leaders? A Different Perspective Simplifies complex history into binary good vs. bad. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biao Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biao-gang-5908612/) [Chairman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairman/) [Chairman mao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairman-mao/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crimes Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes-lin-5908611/) [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) [Crisis Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis-chinese-4710658/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gang/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Mao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mao/) [Mao Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mao-mistakes-5908610/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [More time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more-time/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Saved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saved/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Very good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-good/) ## Related quotes > [In the past there were too many portraits of Chairman Mao in China. They were hung everywhere. That was not proper and it didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/in-the-past-there-were-too-many-portraits-of-chairman-mao-in-china/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [Not only did Mao Zedong Thought lead us to victory in the revolution in the past; it is - and will continue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/not-only-did-mao-zedong-thought-lead-us-to-victory-in-the-revolution/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [It is Chairman Mao who should be held primarily responsible for the Great Leap Forward. 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So we must be very objective in assessing him. His contributions were primary, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/we-should-not-lay-all-past-mistakes-on-chairman-mao-so-we-must-be/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [So far as Chairman Mao's own hopes were concerned, he initiated the "Cultural Revolution" in order to avert the restoration of capitalism, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/so-far-as-chairman-mao-s-own-hopes-were-concerned-he-initiated-the/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [The influence of the Gang of Four should not be underrated, but it should be noted that 97 or 98 per cent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/the-influence-of-the-gang-of-four-should-not-be-underrated-but-it/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [Chairman Mao's greatest contribution was that he applied the principles of Marxism-Leninism to the concrete practice of the Chinese revolution, pointing the way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/chairman-mao-s-greatest-contribution-was-that-he-applied-the/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [Chairman Mao was after all a principal founder of the Chinese Communist Party and the People's Republic of China. In evaluating his merits and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/chairman-mao-was-after-all-a-principal-founder-of-the-chinese/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [In the last couple of years before Chairman Mao's death he said that the "Cultural Revolution" had been wrong on two counts: one was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/in-the-last-couple-of-years-before-chairman-mao-s-death-he-said-that/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [“Somehow, though, life turned that danger around, and this former poison became essential. It may sound trite, but this reversal always reminds me of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kean/somehow-though-life-turned-that-danger-around-and-this-former-poison/) [Sam Kean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kean/) > [One thing that Chairman Mao did was to end the appalling foot binding of women. That alone justifies the Mao Tse-tung era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/one-thing-that-chairman-mao-did-was-to-end-the-appalling-foot-binding/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [Chairman Mao not only introduced Pinyin in China, but also simplified half the Chinese characters, believing that fewer strokes would enable more people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/chairman-mao-not-only-introduced-pinyin-in-china-but-also-simplified/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) ## More by Deng Xiaoping > [In the past there were too many portraits of Chairman Mao in China. They were hung everywhere. 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To be rich is glorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/poverty-is-not-socialism-to-be-rich-is-glorious/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [At the higher stage of communism, when the productive forces will be greatly developed and the principle "from each according to his ability, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/at-the-higher-stage-of-communism-when-the-productive-forces-will-be/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [Black cat or white cat: If it can catch mice, it's a good cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/black-cat-or-white-cat-if-it-can-catch-mice-it-s-a-good-cat/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [Chairman Mao's greatest contribution was that he applied the principles of Marxism-Leninism to the concrete practice of the Chinese revolution, pointing the way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/chairman-mao-s-greatest-contribution-was-that-he-applied-the/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [According to Marx, socialism is the first stage of communism and it covers a very long historical period in which we must practise the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/according-to-marx-socialism-is-the-first-stage-of-communism-and-it/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [Let some people get rich first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/let-some-people-get-rich-first/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [The influence of the Gang of Four should not be underrated, but it should be noted that 97 or 98 per cent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/the-influence-of-the-gang-of-four-should-not-be-underrated-but-it/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [In China, we intend to acquire advanced technology, science and management skills to serve our socialist production. 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White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-white/) [Browse all 423 Chairman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must make a clear distinction between the nature of Chairman Mao's mistakes and the crimes of Lin Biao and the Gang of Four. For most of his life, Chairman Mao did very good things. Many times he saved the Party and the state from crisis. 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