Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun

The phrase "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun" is attributed to Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People's Republic of China and a key figure in the history of communist ideology. This statement reflects Mao's belief that the use of armed force is a crucial means of achieving and maintaining political power. In essence, Mao argued that military strength and the ability to use force are fundamental to establishing authority and enforcing governance.