Mao: Communism is About Individuals?

This is Mao discussing military strategy, so it's not exactly about Communism per se; but it is interesting to see him discuss the relationship between the individual and the whole.

Thoughts?

We have developed a concept over a long period for the struggle against the enemy, namely, strategically we should despise all our enemies, but tactically we should take them all seriously. In other words, with regard to the whole we must despise the enemy, but with regard to each specific problem we must take him seriously. If we do not despise him with regard to the whole, we shall commit opportunist errors. Marx and Engels were but two individuals, and yet in those early days they already declared that capitalism would be overthrown throughout the world. But with regard to specific problems and specific enemies, if we do not take them seriously, we shall commit adventurist errors. In war, battles can only be fought one by one and the enemy forces can only be destroyed one part at a time. Factories can only be built one by one. Peasants can only plough the land plot by plot. The same is even true of eating a meal. Strategically, we take the eating of a meal lightly, we are sure we can manage it. But when it comes to the actual eating, it must be done mouthful by mouthful, you cannot swallow an entire banquet at one gulp.

http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-5/mswv5_70.htm

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
This is Mao discussing military strategy, so it's not exactly about Communism per se; but it is interesting to see him discuss the relationship between the individual and the whole.

Thoughts?

We have developed a concept over a long period for the struggle against the enemy, namely, strategically we should despise all our enemies, but tactical ...[text shortened]... gulp.

http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-5/mswv5_70.htm

in other words:

"Rome wasn't built in a day".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-sniper_tactics

Originally posted by Melanerpes
in other words:

"Rome wasn't built in a day".

Explain further this statement,please.

Originally posted by utherpendragon
Explain further this statement,please.

Mao is basically saying that when you are pursuing a goal such as building Rome, you can't try to do it all at once - you need to break it down into specific steps.

Nothing much here to argue about. Of course, the Rome Mao wanted to build was different from the Rome any of us here in RHP-land would seek to build. (With perhaps a couple of exceptions).

If you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, you ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow...