Letter to Chen Yi1
(April 9, 1944)
Comrade Chen Yi:
I have received your letter, and I also sent it on to Comrade [Liu] Shaoqi to read.
In all things, exercise restraint, think more about your own shortcomings, and
correct your deficiencies. Keep in mind the overall situation. So long as it doesn’t
obstruct major principles, you should excuse others more. Patience is the most
difficult thing. But as a statesman you must practice restraint. Please consider
these suggestions. When you have a cold, it is appropriate to get more sleep, do
less, and eat more. We should talk about other matters face to face.
Salutations!
Mao Zedong
Notes
Our source for this document is Mao Zedong wenji, Vol. 3, p. 127, where it is reproduced from the
manuscript.
1. Chen Yi was acting commander of the New Fourth Army at this time.