This is Mao Zedong’s famous saying.

"Opposing Book Doctrine" is an important work on investigation and research issues written by Mao Zedong in May 1930 to oppose the dogmatism in the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army at that time. Originally titled "Investigative Work". This is Mao Zedong's earliest Marxist philosophical work.

In this work, for the first time, famous assertions such as "Without investigation, there is no right to speak" and "The victory of China's revolutionary struggle depends on Chinese comrades' understanding of China's situation" were put forward; the purpose of social investigation was clarified importance, as well as the purpose, object, content, methods and some technical details of the investigation.

Exposed the errors of dogmatism and its harm to the revolutionary cause, criticized the conservative thinking of some people in the Red Army who were content with the status quo, stuck in rules, superstitious about "books", and unwilling to conduct actual investigations, and pointed out the past Shortcomings of survey methods and directions for improvement.

The article also expresses the idea that studying Marxism must be combined with China’s actual situation. This is the first time that the party’s ideological line has been clearly put forward. It was first put forward in June 1929, emphasizing the Marxism-Leninism Party members must adhere to the ideological line of creating new situations from struggle.

Extended information

Creative background:

This article by Mao Zedong was written to oppose the dogmatism in the Red Army at that time. At that time, the name "dogmatism" was not used, but it was called "bookism".

Mao Zedong criticized some people who kept talking "from the original" when discussing issues within the party. He emphasized the need to combine the resolutions and instructions made by superiors with the actual conditions of the region and department. "The 'books' of Marxism need to be studied, but they must be combined with the actual situation of our country."

If you do not investigate a certain issue, you will stop having the right to speak on a certain issue. Isn't this too barbaric? Not barbaric at all. Since you have not investigated the actual and historical situation of that issue and do not know the bottom line, your statement on that issue must be nonsense.

Everyone knows that talking nonsense cannot solve the problem, so why is it unfair to stop your right to speak? Many comrades keep talking nonsense with their eyes closed all day long. This is a shame for Communists. How can any Communist Party member be allowed to talk nonsense with his eyes closed?

The background for the writing of this article is the dogmatism within the Red Army, and the principled differences and struggles within the party of the Fourth Red Army on some issues at that time.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Against Bookism