Teachings to Army Comrades
(July 1967)

When mistakes are made, we should conduct self-criticism and correct them. Once corrected, it will be fine. You only need to say three sentences. The first sentence: I was wrong. The second sentence: Recognize the mistake for what it is—if it was a wrong orientation on this or that issue, then admit that the orientation was wrong on that issue. The third sentence: I will correct it. That will be all right. Open self-criticism is better than no open self-criticism, a high-profile self-criticism is better than a low-profile one, and an early self-criticism is better than a late one.

In recent years the army has done little mass work. If mistakes were made, correcting them is fine. No disciplinary action will be taken, nor will anyone be punished.