Comments on “Several Questions Concerning Party Life (Study Material)” (October 16, 1961) This document [1] has been read.
With the exception of the passage concerning the Sixty Articles [2], which has been circled out and marked as not to be used [3], the rest may all be utilized.
Mao Zedong, October 16, sent to Comrade Tian Jiaying [4]. Printed from the manuscript.

Notes [1] This is a study material compiled in accordance with the CPC Central Committee’s Decision on Rotational Training of Cadres, primarily consisting of excerpts from various statements by Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, and documents of the CPC Central Committee regarding party life.
The table of contents is as follows: I. The position of a ruling party poses higher demands upon our Party; II.
Act in accordance with the Party Constitution and be a Communist Party member in both name and reality; III.
Strictly observe the Party’s principle of democratic centralism; IV.
Conduct intra-Party struggle correctly; V. Closely link the Party with the masses; VI.
Strengthen Party unity.

[2] On page 42 of “Several Questions Concerning Party Life (Study Material)” are two passages excerpted from Mao Zedong’s “Sixty Articles on Work Methods (Draft)” dated January 31, 1958: “Treat cadres and the masses with a truly equal attitude.
It must be made to feel that relations among people are indeed equal, that one’s heart is genuinely given to them.
Learn from Lu Xun.
Lu Xun’s thought was to communicate with his readers, to resonate with them.
People’s work differs, their posts differ, but no matter how high one’s official rank, everyone should present themselves among the people as an ordinary worker.
Showing off is absolutely forbidden.
We must eradicate bureaucratic作风.”
“As for dissenting opinions put forward by subordinates, one should be able to listen patiently and give them due consideration; one must not become angry at the very first sign of disagreement, taking it as a lack of respect.
This is one of the conditions for treating others with an equal attitude.”
During his review, Mao Zedong deleted these two passages.

[3] On page 44 of “Several Questions Concerning Party Life (Study Material)” is an excerpt from Mao Zedong’s “Intra-Party Correspondence” dated March 17, 1959: “Comrades who are secretaries of the commune Party committees must attend to the interests of the masses at every moment, always keeping in mind that their policies and measures must be suited to the current level of the masses’ consciousness and their pressing needs.
Anything that violates these two principles will certainly fail.”
This passage had already been deleted when the document was submitted to Mao Zedong for review. [ ] Tian Jiaying, at that time deputy director of the CPC Central Committee’s Political Research Office and Mao Zedong’s secretary.