---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Changes in society are due chiefly to the…"
description: "\"Changes in society are due chiefly to the development of the internal contradictions in society, that is, the contradiction between the productive forc..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/mao-zedong-1123_change_changes-in-society-are-due-chiefly-to-th_3112470.jpg"
---

#  Changes in society are due chiefly to the development of…

![“Changes in society are due chiefly to the development of the internal contradictions in society, that is, the contradiction between the productive forces and the relations of production, the contradiction between classes and the contradiction between the old and the new; it is the development of…” quote by Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/mao-zedong-1123_change_changes-in-society-are-due-chiefly-to-th_3112470.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/mao-zedong-1123_change_changes-in-society-are-due-chiefly-to-th_3112470.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/mao-zedong-1123_change_changes-in-society-are-due-chiefly-to-th_3112470.jpg)

> “Changes in society are due chiefly to the development of the internal contradictions in society, that is, the contradiction between the productive forces and the relations of production, the contradiction between classes and the contradiction between the old and the new; it is the development of these contradictions that pushes society forward and gives the impetu6 for the suppression of the old society by the new.”

[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.

Societal change is driven by contradictions between productive forces and production relations, and between classes and old versus new systems.

**In simple terms:** Contradictions push society forward.

Key Takeaway

Identify and address systemic contradictions.

Themes

history economics political theory social change

Mood

critical analytical

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- policy reform
- educational curricula
- labor organization
- technological adoption

Key Concepts

dialectical materialism class struggle technological development

Questions to Reflect On

- What contradictions are most evident today?
- How can they be resolved constructively?

A Different Perspective

Complex analysis may oversimplify nuanced factors.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Changes in society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changes-in-society/) [Changes Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changes-society-1049889/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Class struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-struggle/) [Classes of society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classes-of-society/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Contradictions Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictions-society-1373879/) [Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development/) [Development Contradictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development-contradictions-5439556/) [Dues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dues/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Internal Contradictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internal-contradictions-504941/) [Internals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internals/) [Productions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productions/) [Productive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive/) [Relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relation/) [Society Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-contradiction-1266911/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Suppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suppression/)

## Related quotes

> [Since the social victim has been oppressed by society, he comes to feel that his individual life will be improved more by changes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/since-the-social-victim-has-been-oppressed-by-society-he-comes-to/)

[Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/)

> [For some years now, there has been proof that the devastating effects of the traumatization of children take their inevitable tollon society--a fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/for-some-years-now-there-has-been-proof-that-the-devastating-effects/)

[Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/)

> [If men can be made to understand that society, with its rigid codes and stratifications, is in its confused infancy rather than in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/if-men-can-be-made-to-understand-that-society-with-its-rigid-codes/)

[Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/)

> [The only society that works today is also one founded on mutual respect, on a recognition that we have a responsibility collectively and individually,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/the-only-society-that-works-today-is-also-one-founded-on-mutual/)

[Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/)

> [Once it has been perceived that the division of labour is the essence of society, nothing remains of the antithesis between individual and society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/once-it-has-been-perceived-that-the-division-of-labour-is-the-essence/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [Far from the quick and easy exit that Leave campaigners once promised, Brexit has become mired in its own internal contradictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/far-from-the-quick-and-easy-exit-that-leave-campaigners-once-promised/)

[Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/)

> [ “How do you even speak of, let alone propose regulation of, \[any\] category \[so\] full of internal contradictions? . . . Maybe, like so… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/how-do-you-even-speak-of-let-alone-propose-regulation-of-any-category/)

[Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/)

> [Galaxie 500 broke up because it was time. We broke up as a result of internal contradictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-wareham/galaxie-500-broke-up-because-it-was-time-we-broke-up-as-a-result-of/)

[Dean Wareham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-wareham/)

> [“For the Romanov regime fell under the weight of its own internal contradictions. It was not overthrown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-figes/for-the-romanov-regime-fell-under-the-weight-of-its-own-internal/)

[Orlando Figes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-figes/)

> [I am drawn to characters so full of internal contradictions. Idi Amin was one. I loved writing him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-am-drawn-to-characters-so-full-of-internal-contradictions-idi-amin/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [Throughout history, the really fundamental changes in societies have come about not from the dictates of governments and the results of battles, but through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-harman/throughout-history-the-really-fundamental-changes-in-societies-have/)

[Willis Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-harman/)

> [I think there is a legitimate critique of reformism, as a politics that is content with making small changes in society without asking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kauffman/i-think-there-is-a-legitimate-critique-of-reformism-as-a-politics/)

[Cynthia Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kauffman/)

> [We only need to walk or bike ten percent of the time to make a significant change in society. That is just two days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/we-only-need-to-walk-or-bike-ten-percent-of-the-time-to-make-a/)

[Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/)

> [No genuine change in society ever occurs without the mass public getting behind a cause. The good guys in government are counting on enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morcan/no-genuine-change-in-society-ever-occurs-without-the-mass-public/)

[James Morcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morcan/)

> [I want to initiate a change in society in the long term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/i-want-to-initiate-a-change-in-society-in-the-long-term/)

[Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/)

## 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 Change quotes

> [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/)

[Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/)

> [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/)

[Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/)

> [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/)

[Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/)

> [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/)

[Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/)

> [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

[Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Changes in society are due chiefly to the development of the internal contradictions in society, that is, the contradiction between the productive forces and the relations of production, the contradiction between classes and the contradiction between the old and the new; it is the development of these contradictions that pushes society forward and gives the impetu6 for the suppression of the old society by the new.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mao Zedong"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/changes-in-society-are-due-chiefly-to-the-development-of-the-internal/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Change"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/changes-in-society-are-due-chiefly-to-the-development-of-the-internal/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/mao-zedong-1123_change_changes-in-society-are-due-chiefly-to-th_3112470.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/mao-zedong-1123_change_changes-in-society-are-due-chiefly-to-th_3112470.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/mao-zedong-1123_change_changes-in-society-are-due-chiefly-to-th_3112470.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Changes in society are due chiefly to the development of the internal contradictions in society, that is…” — Mao Zedong",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mao Zedong",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Changes in society are due chiefly...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/changes-in-society-are-due-chiefly-to-the-development-of-the-internal/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/changes-in-society-are-due-chiefly-to-the-development-of-the-internal/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
