Mao's Great Famine Quotes

“But in reality a dictatorship never has one dictator only, as many people become willing to scramble for power over the next person above them. The country was full of local hegemons, each trying to deceive the next one up into believing that their achievements were genuine.”
― Frank Dikötter, Mao's Great Famine: The History of China's Most Devastating Catastrophe, 1958-62

“Anti-party’ cliques were uncovered almost everywhere. Mao prodded the provincial leaders on. ‘Better me than you as dictator,’ he declared in March 1958, invoking words from Lenin.”
― Frank Dikötter, Mao's Great Famine: The History of China's Most Devastating Catastrophe, 1958-1962

“people performers in an extravaganza for Mao.’34 But in reality a dictatorship never has one dictator only, as many people become willing to scramble for power over the next person above them. The country was full of local hegemons, each trying to deceive the next one up into believing that their achievements were genuine.”
― Frank Dikötter, Mao's Great Famine: The History of China's Most Devastating Catastrophe, 1958-1962

“Their labour exploited, their possessions confiscated and their homes demolished, villagers were presented with an opportunity to share in their leaders’ vision. Communism was around the corner, and the state would provide. ‘To each according to his needs’ was taken literally, and for as long as they could get away with it people ate as much as they could. For about two months, in many villages throughout the country, people ‘stretched their bellies’, following Mao’s directive at Xushui: ‘You should eat more. Even five meals a day is fine!”
― Frank Dikötter, Mao's Great Famine: The History of China's Most Devastating Catastrophe, 1958-1962