“Unless you have investigated a problem, you will be deprived of the right to speak on it. Isn’t that too harsh? Not in the least. When you have not probed into a problem, into the present facts and its past history, and know nothing of its essentials, whatever you say about it will undoubtedly be nonsense. Talking nonsense solves no problems, as everyone knows, so why is it unjust to deprive you of the right to speak? Quite a few comrades always keep their eyes shut and talk nonsense, and for a Communist that is disgraceful. How can a Communist keep his eyes shut and talk nonsense?”
I totally agree with the sentiment, but when does one know that one knows enough though? How deep does one have to dig? How much does one have to research to be able to contribute?
Mao mentions the essentials of a topic. He isn’t saying “you must be an expert on something before you can talk about it” rather “You must understand it before you talk about it.”
Someone who knows nothing about a topic cannot contribute to a discussion on it, but someone who knows at least a little still can.
Look at the libs that wander in here sometimes, they are the perfect example of “talking nonsense” that Mao describes. They contribute nothing, because the things they say are said out of complete ignorance of the topic.
Basically, you could sum it up as “Check yourself, before you wreck yourself.” Examine your own understanding of a topic to work out if you do actually know something about it, or if you are just spitting hot air. If you think you do, but others inform you that you don’t, that’s not a bad thing, it’s an opportunity for learning.
“No investigation, no right to speak”.
“Unless you have investigated a problem, you will be deprived of the right to speak on it. Isn’t that too harsh? Not in the least. When you have not probed into a problem, into the present facts and its past history, and know nothing of its essentials, whatever you say about it will undoubtedly be nonsense. Talking nonsense solves no problems, as everyone knows, so why is it unjust to deprive you of the right to speak? Quite a few comrades always keep their eyes shut and talk nonsense, and for a Communist that is disgraceful. How can a Communist keep his eyes shut and talk nonsense?”
-Mao in Oppose Book Worship
I totally agree with the sentiment, but when does one know that one knows enough though? How deep does one have to dig? How much does one have to research to be able to contribute?
Mao mentions the essentials of a topic. He isn’t saying “you must be an expert on something before you can talk about it” rather “You must understand it before you talk about it.”
Someone who knows nothing about a topic cannot contribute to a discussion on it, but someone who knows at least a little still can. Look at the libs that wander in here sometimes, they are the perfect example of “talking nonsense” that Mao describes. They contribute nothing, because the things they say are said out of complete ignorance of the topic.
Basically, you could sum it up as “Check yourself, before you wreck yourself.” Examine your own understanding of a topic to work out if you do actually know something about it, or if you are just spitting hot air. If you think you do, but others inform you that you don’t, that’s not a bad thing, it’s an opportunity for learning.