Comments on
“Several Questions Concerning Party Life
(Study Material)”
(October 16, 1961)
I have read this document. With the exception of the sections pertaining to the Sixty Articles—namely paragraphs 21 and 31, which have been crossed out and are therefore not to be used—the remaining parts [l]
are all usable.
Send to Comrade Tian Jia-ying.
Mao Zedong
October 16
[!]
Tian Jia-ying was then Deputy Director of the Political Research Office of the CPC Central Committee and Mao Zedong’s secretary.

--- Notes

This material was compiled in accordance with the CPC Central Committee’s Decision on Rotational Training for Cadres as a study resource for cadres. It primarily consists of excerpts from various statements by Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, and documents of the CPC Central Committee concerning party life.
The table of contents is as follows: I. The ruling party’s position places higher demands on our Party; II. Act in accordance with the Party Constitution and be a true Communist Party member in both name and deed; III. Strictly observe the principle of democratic centralism within the Party; 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),” two passages from Mao Zedong’s “Sixty Articles on Work Methods (Draft)” dated January 31, 1958, are quoted as follows:
“Treat cadres and the masses with a truly equal attitude. It must be made clear that relations among people are genuinely equal, and that one’s heart is open to them. Learn from Lu Xun. Lu Xun’s thought was to communicate with and resonate alongside his readers. People may differ in their work and in their official positions, but no matter how high one’s rank, everyone should present themselves among the people as an ordinary worker. Showing off or adopting an air of superiority is absolutely forbidden. We must eradicate bureaucratic作风.”
“With regard to dissenting opinions put forward by subordinates, one should be able to listen patiently to the end and give them due consideration. One must not become angry at the very first sign of disagreement, regarding it as a lack of respect. This is one of the conditions for treating others with equality.” During review, Mao Zedong struck out these two passages.
[3]
On page 44 of “Several Questions Concerning Party Life (Study Material),” a passage from Mao Zedong’s “Intra-Party Correspondence” dated March 17, 1959, is quoted as follows: “Comrades who are secretaries of our commune Party committees must attend to the interests of the masses at every moment, constantly bearing in mind that all policies and measures we adopt must be suited to the current level of the masses’ awareness and to their pressing needs. Anything that violates these two principles is bound to fail.” This passage had already been deleted when the document was submitted to Mao Zedong for review.