Instructions for the Second National Congress of the Youth League
(June 1953)

In the list of candidates for the Central Committee of the Youth League, there are only seven who are under thirty years old. That is too few, and there are too few women as well. It is necessary to have some older and more mature Party members participate in the leadership, but young people must be increased. Do not turn it into a dictatorship by the elderly; do not turn it into a Youth and Elderly League.

One must cut chives batch after batch; if you don't cut them, they won't taste good. Are there still ten thousand veteran cadres? Another five thousand can be transferred out.

The report for the Youth Congress, some have reflected that it is somewhat empty. Are the demands too high? I see it as satisfactory. Those over thirty are dissatisfied, and those under twenty-five cannot understand it.

The Party has held several documents very tightly. In my view, under the Party's leadership, the Youth League must have independent activities. Several documents all speak of central work, day after day dry and dull, handled too rigidly. Discipline is necessary, but if you demand discipline twenty-four hours a day, then discipline becomes useless.

Under the Party's leadership, participating in central work, observing discipline, and youth learning from adults—this is one aspect. On the other hand, youth must have an aspect of free activity. On one hand, be mature; on the other hand, not mature. Being mature every day is hard to endure. There must be a strict side, and also a less strict side.

Young people must be educated to be lively, not to be young in age but old in manner, but rather vivid and lively. This is a matter of principle. This is a matter of the Party's connection with the broad masses; otherwise, the Party will become divorced from the masses.

Too politicized, too mature, has become a Youth-Adult Shut-Down. The result is that the lower levels lack the conditions (referring to systematic leadership) and have no independent activities.

Instructions for the Second National Congress of the Youth League
Today we are guiding you to engage in independent activities and supervising you to engage in independent activities.

"Struggle against the phenomenon of discrimination against women"—there has been too much struggle. The implementation of the Marriage Law will take ten to fifteen years. Education is needed, not struggle.

"No liberalism!" (a sentence in the document). Liberalism must be permitted in society; within the Party, liberalism must be opposed. Talking behind someone's back is one way of expressing opinions. Forbidding this among the broad masses is impossible to achieve.

"Regarding instructions from higher authorities, neither fail to execute them nor express opinions" (a sentence in the document). Instructions must be executed. As for not expressing opinions, in our meeting here, some people speak and some do not.

Do not tighten control over young people too much. When children fight, as long as they don't blind each other’s eyes, a little bleeding doesn't matter. Lu Xun's son criticized Lu Xun, saying, "You don't act like a father."

What do you want me to talk about? I'll just talk about fighting and rowdiness.

The Complete Works of Mao Zedong, Volume Thirty-Three
June 28, 1953, Mao Zedong, Li Na, and others watch children catching cicadas outside Andingmen in Beijing.
June 28, 1953, Mao Zedong and children take a short rest outside Andingmen in Beijing.