[1] Mao Zedong wrote this speech to commemorate the death of a PLA soldier, Zhang Side, a participant in the Long March who died in the collapse of a kiln when he worked in Shaanxi province.

[2]: 54  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).

The ancient Chinese writer Szuma Chien said, "Though death befalls all men alike, it may be weightier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather."

[3]: 66  Its messages had the effect of serving as a code of conduct which ordinary people could use to hold officials accountable.

[2]: 43 The slogan is inscribed in the calligraphy of Mao himself, on the screen wall facing the front entrance of the Zhongnanhai compound, which serves as the headquarters for the senior party leadership and houses the offices of the General Secretary, Politburo Standing Committee and the State Council, together composing the most powerful offices in the PRC.

[7] In 2005, author Yan Lianke wrote a satirical novel set during the Cultural Revolution titled Serve the People!

"[2]: 9  The conglomerate Hengtong Group characterizes its business mission as "Serve the people and devote to the society," also a reference to Mao's speech.