"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun"

This quote indicates that the only way to accomplish and keep political power is through force and violence, represented by the "barrel of a gun." It recommends that those who hold power needs to be willing to use force to keep it, instead of relying solely on other methods such as persuasion or democratic processes. This quote is often taken to show Mao's own approach to getting and holding power in Communist China.