The latent power. Sometimes silent. Other times roaring. The masses are the broad human collective. Which may remain dispersed. Or unite in pivotal moments.
They are the source of power in democracies. And the target of propaganda in totalitarian regimes. **They sometimes move by their emotions**. And other times by their collective intellect.
These sayings contemplate the dynamism of crowds. And their impact on history.
āIt is good that since the outbreak of the war with Japan, more and more revolutionary writers have been coming to Yan'an... But it does not necessarily follow that... they have integrated themselves completely with the masses here. The two must be completely integrated if we are to push ahead with our revolutionary work.ā
āThe popular masses are like water, and the army is like a fish. How then can it be said that when there is water, a fish will have difficulty in preserving its existence? An army which fails to maintain good discipline gets into opposition with the popular masses, and thus by its own action dries up the water.ā
āWe should go to the masses and learn from them, synthesize their experience into better, articulated principles and methods, then do propaganda among the masses, and call upon them to put these principles and methods into practice so as to solve their problems and help them achieve liberation and happiness.ā
