Fully Recognize the Real Harm of the Values of Hedonism and Extravagance

“Extravagance is the beginning of decline; danger follows.” [1]1 A classical Chinese saying, originating from the Book of the Later Han (Hou Han Shu), warning that extravagance marks the beginning of decline and danger. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [2]2 The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, held in 2012, marked the beginning of the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics., the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has repeatedly admonished the whole Party to resolutely resist hedonism and the practice of extravagance, and has listed them among the “Four Forms of Decadence” [3]3 The “Four Forms of Decadence” (四风) refer to formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism, and extravagance, targets of the Party’s campaign to improve work style. to be solved in a concentrated manner, guarding against the risk of quantitative change turning into qualitative change, and of minor faults turning into major mistakes. Through unremitting efforts, the style of the Party and government has taken on a new look, social customs and popular mores continue to improve, and the Party’s image in the hearts of the people has been reshaped. However, we must also be soberly aware that style problems are recurrent and stubborn; hedonism and the practice of extravagance emerge from time to time. We must be determined to fundamentally rectify them at the source, do a good job of “consolidating the foundation and nourishing the root” [4]4 A traditional Chinese medical metaphor, meaning to strengthen the body’s constitution and enhance vitality; here used figuratively to refer to consolidating the Party’s ideological and organizational foundation., and educate and guide Party members and cadres to build a solid foundation of faith, replenish the calcium of the spirit, and steer the rudder of thought [5]5 Metaphors for ideological reinforcement: “foundation of faith,” “calcium of the spirit” (to prevent ideological “osteoporosis”), and “steering the rudder of thought” (maintaining correct political direction)..

“奢靡之始，危亡之渐。”党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央反复告诫全党坚决抵制享乐主义、奢靡之风，并将其列入“四风”问题集中解决，严防量变到质变、小节到大错的风险。经过坚持不懈的努力，党风政风焕然一新，社风民风持续向好，重塑了党在人民心中的形象。也要清醒看到，作风问题具有反复性、顽固性，享乐主义、奢靡之风不时抬头，必须下定决心从源头彻底纠治，做好固本培元的工作，教育引导党员、干部筑牢信仰之基、补足精神之钙、把稳思想之舵。

The values of hedonism and extravagance are a corrosion of Party spirit.

享乐奢靡价值观是对党性的腐蚀

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “Style problems are fundamentally problems of Party spirit. Style reflects image and quality, embodies Party spirit, and it is Party spirit that plays the decisive role.” [6]6 Quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech on work style. Hedonism and the practice of extravagance are incompatible with the Party’s nature, purpose, and fine traditions; the masses have strong reactions and deeply detest them. The root of hedonism lies in “an incorrect worldview, outlook on life, and value system, shirking hard work, seeking comfort, and pursuing sensory pleasures.” The root of the practice of extravagance lies in “ideological degeneration, material desires expanding, indulging in debauchery and luxury.” Hedonism and extravagance take on new forms; “the main reason is that some comrades have not properly resolved their worldview, outlook on life, and value system, and they have neither corrected their ideological understanding of upholding the ‘Two Musts’ [7]7 “Two Musts” (两个务必) refers to the call by Mao Zedong in 1949, at the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee, that comrades must remain modest and prudent, not arrogant or impetuous, and must remain hard-working and plain-living, not indulging in luxury and pleasure. nor laid a solid ideological foundation.” Fundamentally, it is a problem of Party spirit.

习近平总书记指出，“作风问题根本上是党性问题。作风反映的是形象和素质，体现的是党性，起决定作用的也是党性”。享乐主义、奢靡之风，同党的性质宗旨和优良作风格格不入，群众反映强烈、深恶痛绝。享乐主义的根源是“世界观、人生观、价值观不正确，拈轻怕重，贪图安逸，追求感官享受”，奢靡之风的根源是“思想堕落、物欲膨胀，灯红酒绿，纸醉金迷”。享乐主义、奢靡之风花样翻新，“主要原因是一些同志的世界观、人生观、价值观问题没有解决好，对坚持‘两个务必’既没有端正思想认识，也没有打牢思想基础”，从根本上说是党性问题。

Style problems are recurrent and stubborn; we must be determined to fundamentally rectify them at the source. The picture shows the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission of Luliang County, Qujing City, Yunnan Province, jointly with market supervision departments, conducting supervision and inspection at a hotel to see if there are problems such as dining and drinking with public funds.

作风问题具有反复性、顽固性，必须下定决心从源头彻底纠治。图为云南省曲靖市陆良县纪委监委联合市场监管部门到某酒店开展监督检查，了解是否存在公款吃喝等问题。

The values of hedonism and extravagance deviate from the Party’s nature and purpose. Once they spread and grow, they will inevitably severely damage the Party’s image among the people and harm the relationship between the Party and the masses, and between cadres and the people. History repeatedly proves that when the Party’s style is upright, the people’s hearts are smooth, the Party and the people can share hardships, and our cause will flourish. Conversely, if we do not pay attention to style construction and allow unhealthy tendencies to erode the Party’s body, there is a danger of losing popular support and even losing political power. Our Party has been in power for a long time; among Party members and cadres, it is easy to develop a mentality of prolonged peace and declining spirits. Some people’s thinking on hard struggle relaxes, and they begin to pursue pleasure, waste, and abuse power for personal gain. “A thousand-li dike collapses from an ant hole.” [8]8 Chinese idiom from Han Feizi, meaning that small negligence can lead to great disaster. We must deeply understand that hedonism and extravagance waste effective resources, delay various tasks, alienate the people, and turn the Party-people relationship of “fish and water” [9]9 The “fish and water” relationship is a classic Maoist metaphor for the close bond between the Party and the people: the Party as fish and the people as water, without which the fish cannot survive. into a relationship of “oil and water” [10]10 “Oil and water” refers to a relationship of mutual separation and incompatibility, implying estrangement between the Party and the people., eroding the Party’s foundation for governance. We must resolutely and harshly curb the evil wind of hedonism and extravagance, vigorously advocate self-cultivation through frugality and thriving through frugality, persist in practicing economy and doing everything with diligence and thrift, and gather strength with a fine style of work.

享乐奢靡价值观背离党的性质宗旨，一旦蔓延滋长，必然严重败坏党在人民群众中的形象，损害党群干群关系。历史反复证明，党的作风正，人民心气顺，党和人民就能同甘共苦，我们的事业就会蓬勃发展。反之，如果不注重作风建设，听任不正之风侵蚀党的肌体，就有失去民心、丧失政权的危险。我们党长期执政，党员、干部中容易出现承平日久、精神懈怠的心态，有的人艰苦奋斗的思想松懈，开始贪图享乐，挥霍浪费，以权谋私。“千里之堤，溃于蚁穴。”要深刻认识享乐主义、奢靡之风浪费有效资源，延误各项工作，疏远人民群众，把党与人民的鱼水关系浊化为“油水关系”，侵蚀党的执政根基。必须坚决狠刹享乐奢靡歪风，大力倡导以俭修身、以俭兴业，坚持厉行节约、勤俭办一切事情，以优良作风凝心聚力。

The values of hedonism and extravagance are contrary to the Party’s discipline and rules. Once they spread and grow, they will inevitably weaken our Party’s cohesion and combat effectiveness. Comprehensive and strict governance of the Party relies on strict discipline. The Code of Integrity and Self-Discipline of the Communist Party of China [11]11 The Code of Integrity and Self-Discipline of the Communist Party of China, a code of conduct for CPC members issued in 2015, emphasizing integrity, self-discipline, and frugality. makes provisions around “frugality versus extravagance,” advocating “persisting in advocating frugality, opposing extravagance, being hardworking and plain-living, and practicing economy.” Behind the values of hedonism and extravagance, there is a reflection of some Party members’ and cadres’ weak awareness of discipline, a mentality of taking chances in violating discipline in the face of the wind, a failure to strictly follow the norms of intra-Party political life and various Party regulations, engaging in “the higher authorities have policies, the lower levels have countermeasures,” refusing to implement orders and ignoring prohibitions. This is a disregard and trampling of Party regulations and discipline. If this persists, the Party’s cohesion and combat effectiveness will be greatly weakened, and the Party’s leadership and governance capacity will be greatly weakened. We must adhere to a problem-oriented approach, urge leading cadres to consciously use Party regulations and discipline to correct their thoughts and actions, and under the premise of following rules and discipline, being honest and upright, work hard and forge ahead, continuously creating new situations in the development of the cause.

享乐奢靡价值观与党的纪律规矩相悖，一旦蔓延滋长，必然削弱我们党的凝聚力和战斗力。全面从严治党就要靠严明纪律。《中国共产党廉洁自律准则》围绕“俭与奢”作出规定，提倡“坚持尚俭戒奢，艰苦朴素，勤俭节约”。享乐奢靡价值观背后反映出一些党员、干部的纪律意识淡漠，在顶风违纪方面存在侥幸心理，不能严格按照党内政治生活准则和党的各项规定办事，搞上有政策、下有对策，有令不行、有禁不止。这是对党规党纪的漠视和践踏，长此以往，党的凝聚力和战斗力就会大大削弱，党的领导能力和执政能力就会大大削弱。必须坚持问题导向，督促领导干部自觉用党规党纪校正思想和行动，在遵规守纪、清正廉洁的前提下奋发图强、锐意进取，不断开创事业发展新局面。

The values of hedonism and extravagance deviate from the Party’s goals of struggle. Once they spread and grow, they can easily lead to the spiritual degeneration of Party members, and then cause the Party to lose its internal driving force for progress. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “Maintaining and developing the Party’s fine style of work, and firming up ideals and convictions, are fundamental.” In the arduous revolutionary years, many revolutionaries gave up fine clothes and fine food, resolutely taking the revolutionary road covered with blood and thorns, because they firmly believed in the truth of their cause. Peng Pai [12]12 Peng Pai (1896-1929), a leading peasant movement organizer in the early years of the CPC, executed by the Kuomintang. resolutely distributed his “land holdings that even crows could not fly over” to tenant farmers and unhesitatingly threw himself into revolutionary struggle. “A clean, pure and simple life is precisely where we revolutionaries can overcome many difficulties!” Fang Zhimin [13]13 Fang Zhimin (1899-1935), a CPC revolutionary leader and military commander, captured and executed by the Kuomintang; his prison writings became famous for their revolutionary spirit., facing the enemy’s temptations of high office and generous salary, selfless and fearless, wrote famous works such as “A Clean Life” and “Lovely China” in prison before being martyred. Since the New Era, a large number of “Role Models of the Era” [14]14 “Role Models of the Era” (时代楷模) is a title awarded by the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee to individuals or groups who exemplify core socialist values. have emerged who remain true to the original aspiration and preserve their true colors. Liao Junbo [15]15 Liao Junbo (1968-2017), a county-level Party official who died from a car accident on duty, posthumously honored as a role model for his selfless service., after many years in leadership positions, always insisted on having only “friendship relations” and no “interests relations”; until he died in the line of duty, his family lived for years in an ordinary residential building with simple decoration and furnishings. Huang Wenxiu [16]16 Huang Wenxiu (1989-2019), a village first Party secretary who died in a flash flood while on duty, posthumously honored as a role model for poverty alleviation., after graduating with a master’s degree, gave up job opportunities in big cities and voluntarily volunteered to serve as the first Party secretary in a poor village, devoting her life to the cause of poverty alleviation and composing a song of youth for the New Era. In contrast, some Party members and cadres are immersed in hedonism and extravagance precisely because the “master switch” [17]17 “Master switch” (总开关) is a metaphor for the fundamental ideological orientation that controls all other thoughts and actions. of thought has gone wrong, the “ballast stone” [18]18 “Ballast stone” (压舱石) is a metaphor for a stabilizing force, here referring to firm ideological conviction. has wavered, and the communist ideals and convictions have weakened and faded. If more and more people within the Party are dispirited, they will show a state of slack action and lack of enterprise; then the Party will lose its internal driving force, let alone lead the people to struggle and advance. The “root” [19]19 “Root” (本) refers to the fundamental essence or origin, here meaning the heart-mind of the Party member. lies in the heart; with a purified heart and lofty aspirations, there is infinite strength. We must give play to the guiding role of ideals and convictions, work hard to firm up the foundation and consolidate the root, and prevent evil winds and unhealthy trends from approaching and attaching to the body.

享乐奢靡价值观偏离党的奋斗目标，一旦蔓延滋长，很容易导致党员精神颓废，进而使党丧失前进的内在动力。习近平总书记强调，“保持和发扬党的优良作风，坚定理想信念是根本”。在艰苦卓绝的革命岁月，多少革命者舍弃锦衣玉食，坚毅走上布满血腥荆棘的革命之路，是因为他们坚信只要主义真。彭湃毅然将“乌鸦都飞不过的田产”分给佃农，义无反顾地投身革命斗争；“清贫，洁白朴素的生活，正是我们革命者能够战胜许多困难的地方！”方志敏面对敌人的高官厚禄引诱，无私无畏，在狱中写下了《清贫》《可爱的中国》等名作后英勇就义。新时代以来，同样涌现出一大批不忘初心、永葆本色的“时代楷模”。廖俊波在领导岗位工作多年，始终坚持只要“朋友关系”，不要“利益关系”，直至他因公殉职，一家人多年都住在普通的居民楼里，家中装修简朴、陈设简单。黄文秀研究生毕业后，放弃大城市的工作机会，主动请缨到贫困村任第一书记，把生命奉献给脱贫攻坚事业，谱写了新时代青春之歌。反观一些党员、干部沉湎于享乐奢靡，正是因为思想“总开关”出了偏差，“压舱石”有了动摇，共产主义理想信念弱化淡化。如果党内越来越多的人精神萎靡，就会呈现行动懈怠、不思进取的状态，那么党就失去了内生动力，更谈不上带领人民奋斗、前进。“本”在人心，内心净化、志向高远便力量无穷。要发挥理想信念的引领作用，在立根固本上下功夫，防止歪风邪气近身附体。

The spirit of hard struggle is never outdated.

艰苦奋斗的精神永不过时

In order to accomplish the great cause of national rejuvenation and building a strong country, our Party has united and led the Chinese people to run one relay after another and work generation after generation, upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, and creating the globally recognized miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability. The present and the coming period is a critical period for comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization [20]20 Chinese-path modernization (中国式现代化) is a term used by Xi Jinping to describe China’s development model, distinct from Western modernization, with characteristics such as a huge population, common prosperity, and harmony with nature.. On the road ahead, there are still many difficulties and challenges. The greater the risks, the more the challenges, the heavier the tasks, the more necessary it is to abandon the values of hedonism and extravagance, to invigorate the spirit, stimulate the fighting will, establish a good image, and win the people’s hearts with a good style of work, and to push forward the continuous development of Chinese-path modernization.

为了完成强国复兴伟业，我们党团结带领中国人民一棒接着一棒跑、一代接着一代干，坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，创造了世所罕见的经济快速发展和社会长期稳定的奇迹。当前和今后一个时期是以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的关键时期，前进道路上仍面临着许多难关和挑战。风险越大、挑战越多、任务越重，越要摒弃享乐奢靡价值观，以好的作风振奋精神、激发斗志、树立形象、赢得民心，推动中国式现代化不断向前发展。

Hard struggle, diligence, and thrift are traditional virtues of the Chinese nation and also excellent qualities of the Communist Party of China. “Observing the rise and fall of states and families in history, success comes from diligence and thrift, and failure from extravagance.” [21]21 A famous couplet by Li Shangyin (Tang Dynasty poet), reflecting on historical lessons. Our Party started and grew strong by relying on hard struggle; the Party’s heart and the people’s heart were also united in hard struggle. Whether we can adhere to the spirit of hard struggle is a major event related to the rise and fall of the cause of the Party and the people. Under conditions of material scarcity and harsh environment, it can keep people maintaining a will that is not afraid of difficulties and is eager to forge ahead, to overcome all difficulties and win victory; when material wealth and comfortable life are abundant, it can keep people maintaining the style of diligence and thrift, not indulging in luxury and corruption, but continuing to strive upward and create a better future. As the Party has been in power for a longer time and the internal and external environment has undergone profound changes, style problems have manifested themselves more and more complexly. Our Party is soberly aware that in improving work style, all tasks are important, but the most fundamental is to uphold and carry forward the spirit of hard struggle. The strength of the country and the rejuvenation of the nation require the accumulation of material civilization and also the sublimation of cultural-ethical progress. The road ahead cannot be smooth sailing; we will inevitably face various major challenges, major risks, major obstacles, and major contradictions. We must never discard the fine tradition of hard struggle, let alone seek pleasure, be arrogant and extravagant, and become captives of the evil wind of hedonism and extravagance. Party members and cadres must meet difficulties head-on, continue to struggle and work hard, and walk well the road of the new era’s “taking the examination” [22]22 “Taking the examination” (赶考) is a metaphor from Mao Zedong in 1949, comparing the CPC’s entry into Beijing to “going to the capital for the imperial examination,” implying that the Party must pass the test of governance. In the New Era, it is used to emphasize the continuous need to meet new challenges..

艰苦奋斗、勤俭节约是中华民族传统美德，也是中国共产党的优秀品质。“历览前贤国与家，成由勤俭败由奢。”我们党是靠艰苦奋斗起家并发展壮大起来的，党心民心也是在艰苦奋斗中凝聚起来的。能不能坚守艰苦奋斗精神，是关系党和人民事业兴衰成败的大事。在物资匮乏、环境艰苦的条件下，它能使人保持不畏艰难、锐意进取的意志，去战胜一切困难，争取胜利；在物质丰富、生活富裕时，它能使人保持勤劳节俭的作风，不溺于奢侈腐化，而是继续奋发向上，创造更美好的未来。随着党执政时间增加和党所处内外环境的深刻变化，作风问题越来越复杂地表现出来。我们党清醒认识到，抓改进工作作风，各项工作都很重要，但最根本的是要坚持和发扬艰苦奋斗精神。国家强盛、民族复兴需要物质文明的积累，也需要精神文明的升华。前进道路不可能是一片坦途，我们必然要面对各种重大挑战、重大风险、重大阻力、重大矛盾，绝不能把艰苦奋斗的优良传统抛之脑后，更不能贪图享乐、骄奢淫逸，做享乐奢靡歪风的俘虏。党员、干部要迎难而上，接续奋斗、艰苦奋斗，走好新时代的赶考之路。

Some say, after so many years of economic and social development, has the fine tradition of hard work, diligence, and plain living become outdated? Is it still necessary to advocate and maintain it? Others say, does adhering to the spirit of hard struggle mean suffering hardship unnecessarily? On such questions, we must be sober and firm: pursuing a better life is definitely not equivalent to wasteful extravagance. The affairs of a large country are numerous and complex, but all rivers flow back to the same source: the people’s well-being and happiness. Our Party’s promotion of reform and development is, in the final analysis, to enable the people to live better days. Stimulating consumption and encouraging consumption takes benefiting the people’s livelihood as the starting point and focus, combines with the daily needs of the people, and provides more diversified and inclusive consumption supply. As China’s economic and social development continues to advance, green has become the distinctive background of Chinese-path modernization. Advocating a simple, moderate, green, and low-carbon lifestyle, opposing luxury waste and unreasonable consumption, is the main theme that conforms to the direction of progress. The extravagance, showing off wealth, and ostentation brought about by the values of hedonism and extravagance are unrestrained consumption, “use and throw away” waste, and an excessive consumption of resources, which is very harmful. Moderate, reasonable, and healthy consumption is the correct consumption outlook. Creating an atmosphere in the whole society where waste is shameful and frugality is honorable is a sustainable, developable, and long-lasting driving force for promoting stable economic growth and social development.

有人说，经过这么多年经济社会发展，克勤克俭、艰苦朴素的优良传统是不是过时了，还有必要倡导和保持吗？还有人说，坚持艰苦奋斗精神是否意味着没苦硬吃？对这类问题必须清醒而坚定，追求美好生活，绝对不等同于奢靡浪费。大国之事千头万绪，但万流归宗指向于人民的幸福安康。我们党抓改革、促发展，归根到底就是为了让人民过上更好的日子。提振消费、鼓励消费，是把惠民生作为出发点和落脚点，结合百姓日常所需，提供更多元、更普惠的消费供给。随着我国经济社会发展不断推进，绿色成为中国式现代化的鲜明底色，倡导简约适度、绿色低碳的生活方式，反对奢侈浪费和不合理消费，才是符合前进方向的主旋律。享乐奢靡价值观所带来的铺张浪费、摆阔气、讲排场，是不加节制的消费、“用过就扔”的浪费，是对资源过度的消耗，十分有害。适度合理健康的消费才是正确消费观，在全社会营造浪费可耻、节约为荣的氛围，对于促进经济平稳增长和社会发展进步才是可持续、可发展、可长久的动力。

In particular, it must be emphasized that our Party is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, the vanguard of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation [23]23 The CPC Constitution defines the Party as the vanguard of both the Chinese working class and the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.. As Party cadres, they must serve the people wholeheartedly and sincerely struggle for the cause of the Party and the people. Only when one is wholeheartedly for the public interest and acts out of public spirit in all matters can one have a correct view of right and wrong, a correct view of righteousness and benefit, a correct view of power, and a correct view of career. Many Party members and cadres who pursue pleasure and extravagant lives have not properly handled the relationship between public and private interests; they then stretch their greedy hands toward public power and public funds to satisfy their personal desires, damaging the Party’s style, government’s style, and social customs. We must constantly remove ideological distractions, correct deviations in action, build a solid dam against corruption and to prevent degeneration, achieve a clear distinction between public and private, be selfless in serving the public, maintain strict self-discipline, and forever preserve the clean and honest political quality of Communists.

特别要强调，我们党是中国工人阶级的先锋队，是中国人民和中华民族的先锋队。作为党的干部，就是要全心全意为人民服务，诚心诚意为党和人民事业奋斗。只有一心为公，事事出于公心，才能有正确的是非观、义利观、权力观、事业观。追求享乐、奢靡生活的党员、干部，很多没有摆正公私关系，继而把贪腐的手伸向公权、公款，以满足个人私欲，破坏了党风政风和社会风气。必须不断清除思想上的杂念、校正行动上的偏差、筑牢拒腐防变的堤坝，做到公私分明、克己奉公、严格自律，永葆共产党人清正廉洁的政治本色。

(Author: Researcher at the Institute of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

（作者：中国社会科学院马克思主义研究院研究员）

Online Editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心