Chairman Mao Zedong Oppose Book Worship - Page 8

Section V. The Aim of Social and Economic Investigation is to Arrive at a Correct Appraisal of Class Forces and then to Formulate Correct Tactics for the Struggle

For example, when we investigate the composition of the peasantry, not only must we know the number of owner-peasants, semi-owner peasants and tenant-peasants, who are differentiated according to tenancy relationships, but also more especially we must know the number of rich peasants, middle peasants and poor peasants, who are differentiated according to class or stratum. When we investigate the composition of the merchants, not only must we know the number of each trade, such as grain, clothing, medicinal herbs, etc., but also more especially we must know the number of small merchants, middle merchants and big merchants. We should investigate not only the state of each trade, but more especially the class relationships within it. We should investigate the relationships not only between the different trades but more especially between different classes. Our chief method of investigation must be to dissect the difference social classes, the ultimate purpose being to understand their interrelations, to arrive at a correct appraisal of class forces and then to formulate the correct tactics for the struggle, defining which classes constitute the main force in the revolutionary struggle, which classes are to be won over as allies and which classes are to be overthrown. This is our sole purpose.