In the speech, Mao quoted a phrase written by the famous Han Dynasty historian Sima Qian: "Though death befalls all men alike, it may be heavy as Mount Tai or light as a feather" (人固有一死，或轻于鸿毛，或重于泰山).
In his address, Mao referenced a quote from the renowned historian Sima Qian: "Death is an inescapable fate for everyone, but its impact can range from being very light to extremely heavy, much like the contrast between the gentle touch of a feather and the weight of Mount Tai."