--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As for people who are politically…" description: "\"As for people who are politically backward, Communists should not slight or despise them, but should befriend them, unite with them, convince them and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/mao-zedong-1123_communist_as-for-people-who-are-politically-backwa_1460693.jpg" --- # As for people who are politically backward, Communists… ![“As for people who are politically backward, Communists should not slight or despise them, but should befriend them, unite with them, convince them and encourage them to go forward.” quote by Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/mao-zedong-1123_communist_as-for-people-who-are-politically-backwa_1460693.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/mao-zedong-1123_communist_as-for-people-who-are-politically-backwa_1460693.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/mao-zedong-1123_communist_as-for-people-who-are-politically-backwa_1460693.jpg) > “As for people who are politically backward, Communists should not slight or despise them, but should befriend them, unite with them, convince them and encourage them to go forward.” [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Communists should engage, not despise, backward political groups, aiming to unite and uplift them. **In simple terms:** Engage, not reject, the politically naive. Key Takeaway Build bridges, not walls. Themes politics unity education Mood strategic hopeful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - grassroots organizing - political education - community outreach Key Concepts social engineering ideology Questions to Reflect On - How to balance persuasion with respect? - What risks arise from befriending opponents? A Different Perspective Changing minds is slow and uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Backward Communists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backward-communists-5276283/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Communists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communists/) [Communists Slight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communists-slight-5276284/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Convince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convince/) [Despise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despise/) [Encourage Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encourage-forward-5276286/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politically Backward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politically-backward-5276285/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [Communists must never separate themselves from the majority of the people or neglect them by leading only a few progressive contingents in an isolated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/communists-must-never-separate-themselves-from-the-majority-of-the/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Communists must be ready at all times to stand up for the truth, because truth is in the interests of the people; Communists must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/communists-must-be-ready-at-all-times-to-stand-up-for-the-truth/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [We Communists never conceal our political views. Definitely and beyond all doubt, our future or maximum program is to carry China forward to socialism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/we-communists-never-conceal-our-political-views-definitely-and-beyond/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [We Communists must be able to integrate ourselves with the masses in all things. 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The chemicals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/viet-nam-was-a-country-where-america-was-trying-to-make-people-stop/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Communists all seem to wear small caps, a look I consider better suited to tubes of toothpaste than to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/communists-all-seem-to-wear-small-caps-a-look-i-consider-better/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [“Socialists and Progressives confuse compassion and compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-samaan/socialists-and-progressives-confuse-compassion-and-compulsion/) [A.E. Samaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-samaan/) > [When I was a sophomore at USC, I was a socialist, pretty much to the left. But not when I left the university. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/when-i-was-a-sophomore-at-usc-i-was-a-socialist-pretty-much-to-the/) [John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/) ## More by Mao Zedong > [Firstly, do not fear hardship, and secondly, do not fear death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/firstly-do-not-fear-hardship-and-secondly-do-not-fear-death/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [The most effective method of propaganda directed at the enemy forces is to release captured soldiers and give the wounded medical treatment... Whenever soldiers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/the-most-effective-method-of-propaganda-directed-at-the-enemy-forces/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [We must learn to do economic work from all who know how, no matter who they are. We must esteem them as teachers, learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/we-must-learn-to-do-economic-work-from-all-who-know-how-no-matter-who/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/a-revolution-is-not-a-dinner-party-or-writing-an-essay-or-painting-a/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [At the beginning of anything out of the ordinary, the mass of the people always dislike it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/at-the-beginning-of-anything-out-of-the-ordinary-the-mass-of-the/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Winds flap the sail, tortoise and snake are silent, a great plan looms. 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If you can apply the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/it-is-necessary-to-master-marxist-theory-and-apply-it-master-it-for/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [It is a very good thing, and a significant one too, to exterminate the bourgeoisie and capitalism in China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/it-is-a-very-good-thing-and-a-significant-one-too-to-exterminate-the/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Return to Shaoshan I regret the passing, the dying, of the vague dream: my native orchards thirty-two years ago. Yet red banners roused the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/return-to-shaoshan-i-regret-the-passing-the-dying-of-the-vague-dream/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [We should go to the masses and learn from them, synthesize their experience into better, articulated principles and methods, then do propaganda among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/we-should-go-to-the-masses-and-learn-from-them-synthesize-their/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Complacency is the enemy of study.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/complacency-is-the-enemy-of-study/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Women hold up half the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/women-hold-up-half-the-sky/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) [Explore all 287 Mao Zedong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) ## More Communist quotes > [ Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party \[Communist Party of China\] and the downfall of the state \[People's Republic of China\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xi-jinping/corruption-could-lead-to-the-collapse-of-the-party-communist-party-of/) [Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xi-jinping/) > [If the director's a communist, whatever, he's a communist. 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