Chapter 06 Formation of extreme egocentric beliefs 1917

Journalist: “How did your ideological beliefs form during your youth? Who influenced you the most?”

Mao: “In 1917, at the age of 24, I read the Chinese translation of ‘System der Ethik’ by the German philosopher Friedrich Paulsen. This book resonated deeply with me, and in combination with my previous thoughts, I wrote detailed annotations of around 12,000 words. Among all the foreign books I had read, this was the one I delved into the most. It suited my taste and expressed what I had been thinking. In my annotations, I candidly expressed my moral ideas. These ideas have accompanied me throughout my life.”

Journalist: “What is the core of your moral beliefs?”

Mao: “The core of my entire moral belief is that ‘I’ is superior to everything. I wrote, ‘People say that the value of morality lies in considering the interests and consequences for others as the motive for one’s actions. I do not agree. If we desire to fulfill our own nature, complete our own hearts, we have our own moral principles. The world exists with people and things, but they all exist because of me.’ My moral perspective is to do as I please.”

Journalist: “Oh, so your moral core is that ‘I’ is superior to everything. That’s quite impressive!”

Mao: “I continued writing, ‘It is better to obey oneself than to obey gods; oneself is the god. The activities throughout our lives are subordinate to our own activities. I am the universe; without me, there is no universe. When individual “I”s come together, they form the universe. And each “I” exists because of me. Who would there be without me? There is no one more worthy of respect than myself in the universe, and there is no one else to obey besides me. Beyond myself, there is no one worthy of respect, no one to fear, and no one to obey.’”

Journalist: “Wow, you say ‘I am the universe.’ That’s quite grandiose! Do you believe in religion?”

Mao: “I reject both religion and tradition. In my view, what is sublime is no longer religion and tradition. The first thing that is sublime is the individual self.”

Journalist: “Oh, so you believe in yourself but not in religion. Do you think there are responsibilities in life?”

Mao: “Speaking of obligations and responsibilities, I do not recognize them at all. I say, ‘We only have obligations to ourselves, not to others. I am only responsible for my subjective reality, and I am not responsible for anything beyond my subjective reality. I have no knowledge of the past, and I have no knowledge of the future. It has nothing to do with my personal reality. I act according to my own desires, so who should I be responsible to?’”

Journalist: “Oh, so you only care about yourself and not about others. There are no responsibilities or obligations beyond oneself.”

Mao: “That’s correct. For me, any achievements only hold meaning if they can be enjoyed in real life. I have no interest in posthumous fame because it belongs to future generations, not to my own reality. I have no desire to pursue a lasting reputation.”

Journalist: “What are your views on conscience? Do you have a conscience?”

Mao: “Generally, people believe that conscience is a psychological constraint on human impulses. I believe that conscience and impulses should be in harmony, not in conflict. They are originally one entity. In all our actions, impulses should prevail, and conscience should recognize and follow them. Conscience is subordinate to impulses. Paulsen said, ‘Do not kill, do not steal, do not deceive, these are supreme commands of conscience.’ I don’t agree with that. I believe that people refrain from doing bad things not because of conscience but because of personal self-interest. If they can get away with it without punishment, then they will do it.”

Journalist: “Oh, so you prioritize impulses, and conscience follows impulses. Are you bound by morality?”

Mao: “I am not bound by the moral and ethical constraints of ordinary people. I believe that willpower triumphs over ethics. To achieve goals, any means necessary can be employed. Great individuals seek lofty objectives and are not constrained by morality. Ordinary people are foolish and ignorant. They must follow my great objectives. I am the center of all thoughts and actions.”

Journalist: “Oh, so you do whatever it takes to achieve your goals.”

Mao: “That’s correct. Another focal point of my character is to destroy and rebuild. I believe that China must be reconstructed. First, it must be destroyed and then rebuilt. This applies to the nation, the people, and even humanity as a whole. It applies to the universe as well. We eagerly hope for its destruction, to destroy the old universe and obtain a new one.”

Journalist: “Oh, so you prioritize destruction and then rebuilding.”

Mao: “Yes. These beliefs of mine have accompanied me throughout my long life. Of course, during 1917-1918, these were just words. I was only 24- 25 years old at that time. Although I was not an ordinary person during my youth, I had not fully demonstrated my leadership abilities. Teacher Xu Teli once said that in school, I did not show much mobilizing power. I posted a notice seeking companions and only a few responded. Although I was active in the ‘New People’s Study Society,’ where I was recommended for the position of general secretary, it was given to Xiao Zisheng, not me.”