Comrade Lin Biao:
I have read it over and it is very good. Please submit it to the Cultural Revolution Group for
consideration and then print it into a booklet and distribute it to the grassroots level of the
Party, government, army, and people. I have made a few minor revisions.[2] Please decide
whether it is appropriate.
Mao Zedong,
March 30, afternoon
A few words from Lenin should be quoted here. [3]
Animals are not isolated individuals, but are divided into classes, orders, genera, and
species, so this sentence can be deleted. [4]
Our Chairman has particularly emphasized class struggle under socialist conditions. This
point has been overlooked by some good Marxist-Leninists, not to mention revisionist figures
like Khrushchev. [5]
Because, at present, China can be said to be the country that plays a decisive role in the
world. For revolution, for world revolution, China is now a decisive factor. Whether it's a
medium-sized country or a large country, if we compare them in this respect, none can be as
influential as China. As long as China doesn't fall, as long as China doesn't change colour,
there will be hope for the world. Most places have become revisionist [6] and have become
dark, but we can still brighten them up again, transforming from black to red. Moreover,
revolutionary forces around the world have either already emerged or are in the process of
rising. Those who want revolution are the majority, and they hope for our support.

[1] The transcript of Lin Biao's speech, delivered on March 20, 1967, by Vice Chairman of the
Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, at a meeting of military



cadres at the army level and above, was submitted to Mao Zedong for review on March 30.
Sections 1 through 3 contain Mao's comments on the speech submitted by Lin Biao for
review; sections 4 and 5 contain Mao's revisions to the speech, with the text printed in italics
containing his additions and revisions.
[2] In addition to paragraphs 4 and 5 of this article, Mao Zedong also made the following
revisions: On page 16, he changed the phrase "many countries have achieved the seizure of
power, but none have been able to hold on to it" to "most have been unable to hold on to
it." On page 28, Lin Biao stated, "We must use Chairman Mao's thought to command the
entire nation and guide all our work. This will last for eternity, guiding everything we do now.
Moreover, it will be the eternal intellectual wealth of the people of the world and the entire
Chinese people." Mao Zedong deleted the phrase "this will last for eternity" and removed
the word "eternally" from the phrase "eternally an intellectual wealth" twice. In addition,
several other individual text revisions and omissions were made.
[3] Page 2 of Lin Biao's speech notes that Lenin emphasized that after the proletariat seized
power, "class struggle continued, but in a different form, becoming even more intense in
some places." Following this sentence, Mao Zedong wrote this comment. In the copy of Lin
Biao's speech distributed by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on
April 24, 1967, the following two passages were added: "Lenin, in 'Hail to the Workers of
Hungary,' said: 'The abolition of classes requires a long, difficult, and stubborn class struggle.
After the overthrow of bourgeois power, after the destruction of the bourgeois state, and
after the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat, class struggle does not
disappear (as the philistines of old socialism and old Social Democracy imagine), but only
changes its form and becomes more brutal in many respects.'" "In 'Left-Wing' Communism:
An Infantile Disorder,' Lenin emphasized: 'The dictatorship of the proletariat is the most
fearless and ruthless battle waged by the new class against its more powerful enemy, the
bourgeoisie. The resistance of the bourgeoisie becomes tenfold more fierce because it has
been overthrown (even within a single country). Its strength lies not only in the power of
international capital and the strength of its international connections, but also in the force of
habit and the power of small-scale production. Because, unfortunately, there are still many
small-scale producers in the world today, and small-scale producers constantly, daily,
spontaneously, and on a large scale give rise to capitalism and the bourgeoisie. '"
[4] Page 4 of Lin Biao's speech manuscript states: "If man is an isolated individual, then he is
no different from a dog, a cow, a horse, a bird flying in the sky, or a fish swimming in the
water." Mao Zedong deleted this sentence and wrote this comment.
[5] In Lin Biao's speech, this sentence originally read: "Our Chairman has particularly
emphasized class struggle under socialist conditions. In this respect, Stalin cannot compare,
not to mention Khrushchev, Brezhnev, and other leaders of revisionist countries."
[6] In Lin Biao's speech, this sentence originally read: "Everywhere has become revisionist."