--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At no time and in no circumstances should…" description: "\"At no time and in no circumstances should a Communist place his personal interests first; he should subordinate them to the interests of the nation and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/mao-zedong-1123_circumstances_at-no-time-and-in-no-circumstances-shoul_2878959.jpg" --- # At no time and in no circumstances should a Communist… ![“At no time and in no circumstances should a Communist place his personal interests first; he should subordinate them to the interests of the nation and of the masses. Hence, selfishness, slacking, corruption, seeking the limelight, and so on, are most contemptible, while selflessness, working with…” quote by Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/mao-zedong-1123_circumstances_at-no-time-and-in-no-circumstances-shoul_2878959.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/mao-zedong-1123_circumstances_at-no-time-and-in-no-circumstances-shoul_2878959.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/mao-zedong-1123_circumstances_at-no-time-and-in-no-circumstances-shoul_2878959.jpg) > “At no time and in no circumstances should a Communist place his personal interests first; he should subordinate them to the interests of the nation and of the masses. Hence, selfishness, slacking, corruption, seeking the limelight, and so on, are most contemptible, while selflessness, working with all one's energy, whole-hearted devotion to public duty, and quiet hard work will command respect.” [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. Calls for selflessness and hard work over personal gain for the collective. **In simple terms:** Selflessness serves the nation. Key Takeaway Put collective needs first. Themes politics selflessness work ethic Mood serious ideological Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government service - community projects - public policy Key Concepts marxist theory socialism Questions to Reflect On - How can personal and collective goals align? - What mechanisms ensure selfless service? A Different Perspective Individual ambition can drive innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Limelight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limelight/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Personal interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-interest/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Selflessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selflessness/) [Slacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slacking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes in human nature causes us to start slacking off at our moment of greatest accomplishment.As you become successful,you will need a great deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/sometimes-in-human-nature-causes-us-to-start-slacking-off-at-our/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [I aint trippen never slicking or slacking on my pimping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/i-aint-trippen-never-slicking-or-slacking-on-my-pimping/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [There's room for everybody to have success, but the moment I start slacking is the moment people will forget about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-young/there-s-room-for-everybody-to-have-success-but-the-moment-i-start/) [Brett Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-young/) > [“Slacking is the process of moderating the temperature of frozen foods before preparation such as deep fat frying. For example, if you are deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-parker-puckett/slacking-is-the-process-of-moderating-the-temperature-of-frozen-foods/) [Ruby Parker Puckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-parker-puckett/) > [Football is definitely a team sport. Without one person doing the right thing, the whole team falls. At Navy and in lacrosse, the off-the-field…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-price/football-is-definitely-a-team-sport-without-one-person-doing-the/) [Sean Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-price/) > [“The web is a dangerous place for a mind begging to slack off and be distracted by nonsense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-m-pillow/the-web-is-a-dangerous-place-for-a-mind-begging-to-slack-off-and-be/) [Michelle M. Pillow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-m-pillow/) > [“I've sort of been slacking off in my voodoo studies.I've trigonometry, you know?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendare-blake/i-ve-sort-of-been-slacking-off-in-my-voodoo-studies-i-ve-trigonometry/) [Kendare Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendare-blake/) > [A lot of times, when young guys come up, you think you don't have to work as hard because the talent is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-wood/a-lot-of-times-when-young-guys-come-up-you-think-you-don-t-have-to/) [Kerry Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-wood/) > [I never want it to be a point where I'm so comfortable that I'm slacking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torae/i-never-want-it-to-be-a-point-where-i-m-so-comfortable-that-i-m/) [Torae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torae/) > [And each book has to receive your best effort every single time. No slacking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/and-each-book-has-to-receive-your-best-effort-every-single-time-no/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [Okay maybe I've been slacking off on my meditating and my studying and my training, but there's more to being the Dragon Warrior than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-the-dragon-warrior/okay-maybe-i-ve-been-slacking-off-on-my-meditating-and-my-studying/) Po - The Dragon Warrior > [I need to go spend time with my sister. I am slacking on my big sister duties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-need-to-go-spend-time-with-my-sister-i-am-slacking-on-my-big-sister/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are so many adventures that you miss because you're waiting to think of a plan. To find them, look for tiny interesting choices.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-munroe/there-are-so-many-adventures-that-you-miss-because-you-re-waiting-to/) [Randall Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-munroe/) > [The pressure of adversity is the most powerful sustainer of accountability. It's as though everything you do is multiplied by 50 in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-pressure-of-adversity-is-the-most-powerful-sustainer-of/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Instead of tryig to stop thought when you meditate, focus your attention on love. Suddenly you'll find your thoughts are slacking. Light is everywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/instead-of-tryig-to-stop-thought-when-you-meditate-focus-your/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## 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. A bridge will fly over this moat dug by heaven and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/winds-flap-the-sail-tortoise-and-snake-are-silent-a-great-plan-looms/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/let-a-hundred-flowers-bloom-let-a-hundred-schools-of-thought-contend/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [ In the struggle to defend the legacy of Leninism . . . \[Stalin\] proved himself to be an outstanding Marxist-Leninist fighter. . . .… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/in-the-struggle-to-defend-the-legacy-of-leninism-stalin-proved/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [New things have to experience difficulties and setbacks as they grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/new-things-have-to-experience-difficulties-and-setbacks-as-they-grow/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [It is necessary to master Marxist theory and apply it, master it for the sole purpose of applying it. 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 Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At no time and in no circumstances should a Communist place his personal interests first; he should subordinate them to the interests of the nation and of the masses. 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