We Must Diligently Educate Model
Heroes
(December 24, 1944)
Comrade [Cheng] Zihua:1
The way in which you handled Li Yong’s election loss was correct.2 What needs
attention is that Li Yong’s arrogance stems mostly from the fact that we did not
educate him sufficiently to make him avoid arrogance. Phenomena like that of Li
Yong also occur in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region and might occur
elsewhere as well. The responsibility lies mainly not with the individuals
themselves but, rather, with those who lead them. Henceforth, all elected model
heroes must be instructed diligently to avoid arrogance. Only in this way can
they be cultivated into permanent model figures. If we only praise them but do
not educate them, then the loss of elections through arrogance will be inevitable.
Please pay attention to this point.
Mao Zedong
Notes
Our source for this document is Mao Zedong wenji, Vol. 3, p. 246, where it is reproduced from the
manuscript.
1. For Cheng Zihua, see above, note to the text of July 28, 1944.
2. This refers to the case of Liu Yong in the election of labor heroes in the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border
Region.