Page 38 - SELECTED WORKS OF MAO TSE-TUNG Volume III.indd

36 MAO TSE-TUNG
our style in Party relations we mean the malady of sectarianism. By
something wrong with the style of writing we mean the malady of
stereotyped Party writing. All these are wrong, they are ill winds,
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but they are not like the wintry north winds that sweep across the
whole sky. Subjectivism, sectarianism and stereotyped Party writing
are no longer the dominant styles, but merely gusts of contrary wind,
ill winds from the air-raid tunnels. (Laughter) It is bad, however,
that such winds should still be blowing in the Party. We must seal
off the passages which produce them. Our whole Party should under-
take the job of sealing off these passages, and so should the Party
School. These three ill winds, subjectivism, sectarianism and stereo-
typed Party writing, have their historical origins. Although no longer
dominant in the whole Party, they still constantly create trouble and
assail us. Therefore, it is necessary to resist them and to study, analyse
and elucidate them.
Fight subjectivism in order to rectify the style of study, fight
sectarianism in order to rectify the style in Party relations, and fight
Party stereotypes in order to rectify the style of writing — such is
the task before us.
To accomplish the task of overthrowing the enemy, we must
accomplish the task of rectifying these styles within the Party. The
style of study and the style of writing are also the Party’s style of
work. Once our Party’s style of work is put completely right, the
people all over the country will learn from our example. Those out-
side the Party who have the same kind of bad style will, if they are
good and honest people, learn from our example and correct their
mistakes, and thus the whole nation will be influenced. So long as
our Communist ranks are in good order and march in step, so long
as our troops are picked troops and our weapons are good weapons,
any enemy, however powerful, can be overthrown.
Let me speak now about subjectivism.
Subjectivism is an improper style of study; it is opposed to
Marxism-Leninism and is incompatible with the Communist Party.
What we want is the Marxist-Leninist style of study. What we call
style of study means not just style of study in the schools but in
the whole Party. It is a question of the method of thinking of com-
rades in our leading bodies, of all cadres and Party members, a question
of our attitude towards Marxism-Leninism, of the attitude of all
Party comrades in their work. As such, it is a question of extra-
ordinary, indeed of primary, importance.