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Youth Needs Experience

Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung

YOUTH NEEDS EXPERIENCE

October 5, 1939

[This is the complete text of a message dated 5 October, 1939, published as an unnumbered page at the beginning of Chung-kuo ch'ling-vin wel-hsuan, Chung-kuo Ch'ing-nien She, 1940.]

The young people — whether or not they be members of the Communist Party — who join the ranks of the revolutionary movement, bringing new blood and enthusiasm, are all very precious. Without them, the ranks of the revolution could not develop and the revolution could not triumph. But lack of experience is the natural failing of our young comrades. Now revolutionary experience comes from personal participation in revolutionary struggle. If one begins working at the grass roots, if, for several years, one does work that is genuine, not false, then experience will come to those who do not have it.

Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung

Source: marxists.org — original. Shared freely for study.