Summary
*Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung* is a collection of 267 statements drawn from Mao Zedong’s speeches and writings, originally compiled by the PLA Daily as an inspirational political and military document. The book is organized into 25 topics, each presenting selected quotations intended to guide thought and action according to Maoist ideology. Published from 1964 to about 1976, it was widely distributed during the Cultural Revolution, with small, red-covered editions becoming iconic in the West as the “Little Red Book.”
The central argument of the book is that Mao’s words provide authoritative, actionable principles for political and military struggle, serving as a direct reference for revolutionary practice. A reader takes away a condensed, topic-based repository of Mao’s core teachings, from class struggle to party discipline, designed for easy carrying and frequent consultation. The book’s structure—brief quotations grouped by theme—reinforces its purpose as a portable tool for ideological reinforcement and daily guidance.
Key concepts
- Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung — The official title of the book, a compilation of 267 statements from Mao’s speeches and writings, covering 25 topics.
- Little Red Book — The Western common name for the small, red-covered editions of the quotations, widely distributed during the Cultural Revolution.
- PLA Daily — The People’s Liberation Army Daily, the original compiler of the quotations as an inspirational political and military document.
- 200 Quotations from Chairman Mao — The initial publication title, covering 23 topics with 200 selected quotations, first given to delegates in January 1964.
- Cultural Revolution — The period from 1964 to about 1976 during which the book was published and widely distributed.
From the book
Description: Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung is a book of statements from speeches and writings by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), the former Chairman of the Communist Party of China, published from 1964 to about 1976 and widely distributed during the Cultural Revolution.The most popular versions were printed in small sizes that could be easily carried and were bound in bright red covers, becoming commonly known in the West as the Little Red Book.Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung was originally compiled by an office of the PLA Daily (People's Liberation Army Daily) as an inspirational political and military document. The initial publication covered 23 topics with 200 selected quotations by the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, and was entitled 200 Quotations from Chairman Mao.…
Snippet: Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung is a book of statements from speeches and writings by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), the former Chairman of the Communist Party of China, published from 1964 to about 1976 and widely distributed during the ...