Page 134 - SELECTED WORKS OF MAO TSE-TUNG Volume II.indd

132 MAO TSE-TUNG

THE THEORY OF NATIONAL SUBJUGATION
IS WRONG
AND THE THEORY OF QUICK VICTORY
IS LIKEWISE WRONG
26. In our comparative study of the enemy and ourselves with
respect to the basic contradictory characteristics, such as relative
strength, relative size, progress or reaction, and the relative extent
of support, we have already refuted the theory of national subjugation,
and we have explained why compromise is unlikely and why political
progress is possible. The subjugationists stress the contradiction be-
tween strength and weakness and puff it up until it becomes the basis
of their whole argument on the question, neglecting all the other
contradictions. Their preoccupation with the contrast in strength shows
their one-sidedness, and their exaggeration of this one side of the
matter into the whole shows their subjectivism. Thus, if one looks at
the matter as a whole, it will be seen that they have no ground to
stand on and are wrong. As for those who are neither subjugationists
nor confirmed pessimists, but who are in a pessimistic frame of mind
for the moment simply because they are confused by the disparity
between our strength and that of the enemy at a given time and in
certain respects or by the corruption in the country, we should point
out to them that their approach also tends to be one-sided and sub-
jective. But in their case correction is relatively easy; once they are
alerted, they will understand, for they are patriots and their error
is only momentary.
27. The exponents of quick victory are likewise wrong. Either
they completely forget the contradiction between strength and weak-
ness, remembering only the other contradictions, or they exaggerate
China’s advantages beyond all semblance of reality and beyond rec-
ognition, or they presumptuously take the balance of forces at one
time and place for the whole situation, as in the old saying, “A leaf
before the eye shuts out Mount Tai.” In a word, they lack the courage
to admit that the enemy is strong while we are weak. They often deny
this point and consequently deny one aspect of the truth. Nor do they
have the courage to admit the limitations of our advantages, and
thus they deny another aspect of the truth. The result is that they
make mistakes, big and small, and here again it is subjectivism and
one-sidedness that are doing the mischief. These friends have their