Communist Quote by Mao Zedong
“Communists must listen attentively to the views of people outside the Party and let them have their say. If what they say is right, we ought to welcome it, and we should learn from their strong points; if it is wrong, we should let them finish what they are saying and then patiently explain things to them.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Party Policy Guidelines, Mao Zedong, 1957
Encourages open dialogue, accepting correct ideas from outsiders and patiently correcting mistakes.
In simple terms: Listen, learn, and correct with patience.
Seek truth, respect dissent.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy meetings
- community forums
- cross‑party negotiations
- public debates
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders balance openness with maintaining authority?
- What safeguards prevent misuse of “patient explanation”?
May be difficult in authoritarian contexts where dissent is suppressed.