Regarding the Revisions to the Draft of the Comment on the "Four Transformations" Movement
(28 April 1960)

In the propaganda work for the Four Transformations,
we must seek truth from facts and must not casually publicize targets.
Moreover,
we must be adept at keeping something in reserve—doing ten parts, saying five parts, or even saying only one or two parts, and for certain extremely confidential parts, saying nothing at all. Strictly guard against the emergence of an impractical boastful tendency.
[1]
In a report dated 19 April 1960 to Comrade Deng Xiaoping, General Secretary of the Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, and to the Central Committee, Comrade Nie Rongzhen, Vice Premier of the State Council and concurrently Director of the Science and Technology Commission, stated: With the vigorous development of the technological revolution movement centered on the "Four Transformations" (mechanization, semi-mechanization, automation, semi-automation), propaganda reports are increasing daily. We must oppose two erroneous viewpoints. First, we must oppose the past mystical viewpoint that dared not mention mechanization and automation; we must liberate our thinking and do away with superstition. This is the main aspect. On the other hand, we must pay attention to and guard against oversimplifying the tasks of the "Four Transformations" and lowering the requirements for the modern standards of mechanization and automation.
At present, the degrees of mechanization announced in newspapers and periodicals for some cities are all very high, generally claiming that mechanization and semi-mechanization can be basically realized within the year. Such formulations merit study.
Because:
(1) Announcing this prematurely oversimplifies the tasks of the "Four Transformations," does not conform to actual conditions, and is also detrimental to the further development of the movement.
(2) The standards for the "Four Transformations" vary greatly from place to place. When standards are on the loose side, estimates may tend to be on the high side. The methods for calculating percentages are also not uniform. Once published, they will be difficult to correct later.
(3) Since our definitions, yardsticks, and calculation methods are not entirely consistent with those abroad, to prevent being put in a passive position, it is advisable to publish comprehensive, high figures sparingly or not at all. In the future, all propaganda reports on specific degrees of mechanization
should leave room for leeway. Unrealized plans or inflated estimates should generally not be published, nor should formulations such as "a certain city has basically realized mechanization and semi-mechanization" be publicly propagated in the newspapers. Doing more and saying less is also beneficial to the further development of the movement.
[2]
This is Mao Zedong's revision of a passage in the draft of a Central Committee comment drafted by Deng Xiaoping for transmitting Nie Rongzhen's opinion. The text printed in Song typeface represents the words he added and rewritten.
On 28 April 1960, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued this comment.