Three Principles for Courtship[1]

(1937)

The first principle is the principle of political alignment. The revolutionary task at present is to resist Japan and save the nation, and in the future we will carry out communism. Love between men and women must first have this foundation. Can we love the enemy? Can we talk of love with traitors and collaborators? Only when there is political like-mindedness is it possible to speak of whether this person is lovable or not. The second principle is mutual willingness, absolutely not one-sided willingness. We advocate equality between men and women, we oppose regarding men as superior and women as inferior, we oppose male chauvinism, and we must not allow any disguised coercion. The third principle is not hindering work. Among young people, we must advocate putting work first, and absolutely not putting love first. Still less can we "for the sake of love, cast aside all things."

[1] This is the main content of an article by Mao Zedong on the principles of courtship published in the *People's Daily*.