Outline for the Closing Remarks
(March 1, 1957)
Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend.
We should both popularize and elevate. Peking Opera was originally a local theater form and may yet undergo further transformation.
Even wildflowers and weeds have their uses; some might turn into fragrant blossoms, while fragrant flowers can lose their scent.
The Communist Party too will one day become obsolete.
Marxism ought to be propagated, but people should not be forced to believe in it. Is it inappropriate to place the working class, the Communist Party, and Marxism-Leninism at the helm?
Hungary will require two to three years to recover. The mistakes were: bureaucratism, estrangement from the masses, an erroneous industrial policy, wage cuts for workers, the simple overthrow of capitalists, failure to reeducate intellectuals, and insufficient suppression of counterrevolutionaries.
On the issue of criticism: There is no need to fear it. Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend. Marxism is unafraid of criticism and should permit mutual critique. Criticizing the government is not a crime. Veteran cadres should also be unafraid of criticism.
Long-term coexistence and mutual oversight. There has been no arrangement, or rather, inadequate arrangements.
Great democracy and small democracy—generally, small democracy applies, but in certain localities where small democracy is not implemented, great democracy may be allowed.
Strikes, school boycotts, marches and demonstrations, petitions.
Within the bounds of the law (no violence or destruction of property permitted).

Discipline—for the purpose of strengthening discipline; our people are, by nature, highly disciplined.
Take military democracy as an example.
Respect teachers and cherish students.
This applies locally and on an individual basis, rather than being universally advocated.
As
a method for overcoming contradictions among the people and adjusting social order, given the persistence of bureaucratism.
To be distributed down to the county level; further study is still required.
Bureaucratism—is like rubber.
Is it inappropriate to have the working class, the Communist Party, and Marxism-Leninism (as guiding ideology) in the leading role?
A tortuous, wave-like, spiral advance.
Science. Rubber—50 to 60 years.
May idealism be criticized? The key lies in being persuasive.
Issue 400,000 copies of the “Reference News” for participation in examinations.
(2000, 300,000)
121, Selected Works of Chiang Kai-shek, fly.
Do not dampen the enthusiasm of scientists. Visit the Academy of Sciences.
Maintain the population at around 600 million (moderate growth for a period, pending the creation of favorable conditions for subsequent appropriate expansion).
A purely technical outlook is gaining ground.
The economic crisis in the United States and its conflicts with other countries.
When the state is in order, it is shameful to be poor and lowly. Shameful!
Chuan
Refers to the dispatch of Mao Zedong’s speech delivered on February 27, 1957, at the eleventh (expanded) meeting of the Supreme State Council, down to the county level.
[2]
In his closing remarks at the eleventh meeting of the Supreme State Council, Mao Zedong stated that publication of the “Reference News” was being prepared for expansion from 200,000 to 300,000 copies, to be distributed up to the county level.
[3]
In his closing remarks at the eleventh meeting of the Supreme State Council, Mao Zedong expressed support for publishing a complete collection of Chiang Kai-shek’s works, but not for public distribution.