Softness conceals strength;
A needle hidden within cotton.

[1] These are two sentences Mao Zedong gave to Deng Xiaoping. On December 15, 1973,
Mao Zedong summoned members of the Central Political Bureau and commanders of major
military regions to his study. He pulled Deng Xiaoping to his side and said, "We have now
invited back a Chief of the General Staff, your old boss. I have invited him back, and the
Political Bureau has invited him back." Some people are afraid of him, but he is decisive in
his actions. He then said to Deng Xiaoping, "I will give you two sentences: be gentle but firm,
be soft but sharp, be gentle on the outside, but be a steel needle




















1973: Writings and Speeches
Mao Zedong
Contents
Title
Date
Page
Number
Introduction

Comments on Tan Zhenlin's Letter
January 2
Telegram from Mao Zedong and others congratulating the
formal signing of the Paris Agreement on the Vietnamese
Question
January 29
Comments on the letter reflecting the situation of Li Yimang,
Shu Tong, and Lin Tie
January to
June
Conversations with Kissinger
February and
November
Comments on the draft decision submitted by Zhou Enlai on
restoring Deng Xiaoping’s Party membership and position as
Vice Premier of the State Council
March
Presented to the Esteemed Guo
Spring
Letter to Li Qinglin
April 25
Diplomats' Style Couplets (poem)
April
Comments on Tan Zheng's Letter
May
Reports of several conversations with foreign guests

June to
November
Conversation with Malian head of state Traoré (excerpt)
June 22
Comments on Ye Fei's letter
June 25
Conversation with Wang Hongwen and Zhang Chunqiao
July 4
A Playful Sequel to Li Bai's “Liangfu Yin” (poem)
July 4
Comments on a letter from Zhou Enlai to the Party Core Group
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the American Affairs
Group
July 5
Comments on the draft political report of the 10th CPC
National Congress
July 7
Comments on Liao Jingwen's Letter
July 15
Conversation with Ngouabi
July 29
Comments on Guo Huaruo's Letter
August 4
Reading "On Feudalism" Presented to the Esteemed Mr Guo
(poem)
August 5
Telegram from Mao Zedong and Others Congratulating the
25th Anniversary of the Founding of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea
September 8
We must run the training courses for workers, peasants and
soldiers well
1973
Comments on Luo Ruiqing's Letter
November 20
Comments on a letter criticizing Jiang Qing
November 25



Telegram from Mao Zedong and Others Congratulating the
29th Anniversary of the Liberation of Albania
November 28
Criticism of Jiang Qing's False Accusations Against Zhou Enlai
December 9
China will build the Qinghai-Tibet Railway
December 9
Main Points of a Talk on the Exchange of Commanders of Major
Military Regions
December12
A Gift to Deng Xiaoping
December