Mao, as are all Communists, is an utter failure in economics and common decency. Nevertheless, he does get some things right, and does know a thing or two about “asymmetrical warfare”.
Political power does indeed flow from the barrel of a gun, for instance. (Which is why so many governments seek to disarm and render helpless their subjects - but I digress) e.g. In our present circumstances the guns are media and all other nodes of indoctrination a/k/a “education”.
Another is Mao’s observation that guerrillas fighting an occupation force need not worry about securing weapons and ammunition. The enemy will keep you in constant supply - you just have to kill them and take it. e.g. “Fairness” doctrine; government support - via tax payers’ confiscated labor - directed to ACORN et al.
Mao’s study of guerilla, liberation war by a large, dispersed population against a small, urban, foreign elite with superior conventional resources is a classic in military theory and history. He was an early and profound exponent of the concept that “we surround them”.
Some things are worthy of study, and where conceptually applicable - incorporation. Here is a site that I like to use, based on the principle of letting one’s enemies keep one in supply:
http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/military-writings/index.htm
All of this is of course, I must emphasize, underscore, clarify, urge and insist is solely for historical and academic analogy only. Otherwise people might get hurt.
Not intended for any practical uses whatsoever.
Anyone, particularly in a commencement address to high schoolers, but otherwise in any serious (and it was serious) speech, who is going to quote something to learn from from Mao, MUST know that she MUST couple that “teachable moment” with a full and robust condemnation of all about Mao that is condemnable.
Also it is not like whatever insights Mao had were unique to him and that some other more suitable and less ironic source could not be found.