"War can only be abolished through war, and in order to get rid of the gun it is necessary to take up the gun"

In this quote, Mao Zedong is recommending that the only way to end war is through participating in war itself. He thinks that in order to eliminate the use of weapons, one should first utilize them. This idea is rooted in the principle of "battling fire with fire," where the only method to beat an opponent is by utilizing the exact same methods and weapons they use. Mao is also indicating that war is a needed evil in order to accomplish peace and disarmament. This quote shows Mao's belief in making use of violence and force to attain political goals, an approach that was main to his leadership in China.