Liberalism manifests itself in various ways.
Do you ever let things slide for the sake of peace and friendship when a person has clearly gone wrong, and refrain from principled argument because he is an old acquaintance, a fellow townsman, a schoolmate, a close friend, a loved one, an old colleague or old subordinate. Or to touch on the matter lightly instead of going into it thoroughly, so as to keep on good terms?
Do you ever indulge in irresponsible criticism in private instead of actively putting forward one's suggestions to the organization? To say nothing to people to their faces but to gossip behind their backs, or to say nothing at a meeting but to gossip afterwards? To show no regard at all for the principles of collective life but to follow one's own inclination?
Do you let things drift if they do not affect one personally; to say as little as possible while knowing perfectly well what is wrong, to be worldly wise and play safe and seek only to avoid blame?
Do you ever give pride of place to your own opinions? To demand special consideration from the organization but to reject its discipline?
Do you indulge in personal attacks, pick quarrels, vent personal spite or seek revenge instead of entering into an argument and struggling against incorrect views for the sake of unity or progress or getting the work done properly?
Do you ever hear incorrect views without rebutting them, or even to hear remarks that threaten your community without reporting them, but instead to take them calmly as if nothing had happened?
Do you ever see someone harming the interests of the masses and yet not feel indignant, or dissuade or stop him or reason with him, but instead allow him to continue?
Do you ever regard yourself as having rendered great service to the revolution, or pride yourself on being a veteran, or disdain minor assignments while being quite unequal to major tasks, to be slipshod in work and slack in study?
Are you ever aware of your own mistakes and yet make no attempt to correct them?
If you answered "
" to any of these questions, you might be a Liberal!
, and that's enough to make you a full comrade in my eyes.
