Shaping Fine Conduct with Strong Party Spirit

Party spirit is internalized in the mind, while conduct is externalized in action. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, addressing the question of what to focus on in conduct building and how to carry it out, has emphasized “seeing Party spirit through conduct, and on the basis of solving conduct problems, solving Party spirit problems,” regarding this as a key focal point for improving conduct. On the new journey of the New Era, for the Party to shape fine conduct, it must guide the vast number of Party members and cadres, especially leading cadres, to temper their Party spirit, truly returning to simplicity and consolidating the foundation from the ideological root.

党性内化于心，作风外化于行。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央围绕作风建设抓什么、怎么抓的问题，强调“透过作风看党性，在解决作风问题的基础上解决好党性问题”，并认为这是改进作风的一个重要着眼点。新时代新征程党要塑造优良作风，就必须引导广大党员干部特别是领导干部锤炼党性，真正从思想根子上返璞归真、固本培元。

Party Spirit Is the Essence of Conduct Problems

党性是作风问题的本质

Party spirit is the inner basis of conduct; what kind of Party spirit one has determines what kind of conduct one exhibits. When Party spirit is firm, conduct is fine; when Party spirit is improper, conduct is impure. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, starting from the Eight-Point Regulations, has tackled clean governance and anti-corruption, persistently rectifying conduct and enforcing discipline. The conditions of lax discipline and poor conduct have markedly changed, and Party and government conduct have taken on a new look. Yet it should also be noted that the ills of the “four forms of decadence” [1]1 The “four forms of decadence” (四风) refer to formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, which were the target of a major rectification campaign launched by the CPC leadership after 2012. still exist. The “four forms of decadence” violate the Party’s nature and purpose; they are prominent manifestations of conduct problems, rooted mainly in issues such as a misplaced outlook on political performance, lack of responsibility, incorrect worldview, outlook on life, and values, moral degeneration, and material desires. In essence, they are problems of Party spirit. Therefore, improving conduct cannot simply address issues on a case-by-case basis; rather, one must draw inferences and deeply understand the Party spirit problems behind conduct issues.

党性是作风的内在依据，有什么样的党性，就有什么样的作风。党性坚定则作风优良，党性不正则作风不纯。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央从中央八项规定破题抓党风廉政建设，持之以恒正风肃纪，纪律松弛、作风不良等状况显著改变，党风政风焕然一新。但也应看到，当前“四风”之弊仍然存在。“四风”是违背党的性质和宗旨的，是作风问题的突出表征，根源主要就是政绩观错位、责任心缺失、三观不正、思想堕落、物欲膨胀等问题，从本质上看就是党性出了问题。因此，改进作风不能简单就事论事，而是要举一反三，深刻认识作风问题背后的党性问题。

Fine conduct is built on a foundation of strong Party spirit. Over more than a century, the Communist Party of China has always regarded conduct building as the lifeline of Party building—from the “Three Main Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention” [2]2 The “Three Main Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention” were a set of military and behavioral codes for the Red Army, first issued in 1928 and later standardized, emphasizing obedience, non-confiscation of property, and fair treatment of civilians. to the “Eight-Point Regulations,” from the “Two Musts” [3]3 The “Two Musts” were Mao Zedong’s call at the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee in 1949: “The comrades must be taught to remain modest, prudent, and free from arrogance and rashness; the comrades must be taught to preserve the style of plain living and hard struggle.” to the “Three Musts” [4]4 The “Three Musts” were put forward by Xi Jinping in 2022: “The comrades must be. Fundamentally, all these have been based on cultivating the Party spirit and self-cultivation of Party members, rectifying the source and consolidating the foundation ideologically, ensuring that the Party never deteriorates, never changes color, and never loses its flavor. On the new journey, hard battles—gnawing at “hard bones,” wading through “deep waters,” and storming “bridgeheads”—demand that our Party be stronger and more powerful, that its conduct be more rigorous, and that Party members and cadres cultivate the “mental cultivation” of Communists, closely integrating Party spirit cultivation with conduct building, measuring gains and losses in work and calibrating behavioral standards by the yardstick of Party spirit, allowing Party spirit to be continuously elevated in practice, and driving the sustained improvement of the Party’s conduct.

优良作风是以坚强党性做基础的。百余年来，中国共产党始终将作风建设视为党的建设的生命线，从“三大纪律八项注意”到“中央八项规定”，从“两个务必”到“三个务必”，从根本上看都是以培育党员的党性修养为基石，在思想上正本清源、固本培元，确保党永远不变质、不变色、不变味。新征程上，一场场啃“硬骨头”、涉“深水区”、攻“桥头堡”的硬仗，要求我们党更加坚强有力，党的作风更加过硬，要求党员干部修好共产党人的“心学”，切实把党性修养与作风建设紧密结合起来，以党性的尺子来衡量工作得失、把握行为尺度，让党性在实践中不断升华，推动党的作风持续向好。

Concrete Manifestations of Strong Party Spirit

党性坚强的具体表现

In a general sense, Party spirit is the inherent nature and specific attribute of a political party; it is the distinctive characteristic manifested by the aggregation of a Party member’s moral and political qualities. For Chinese Communists, Party spirit manifests their loyalty to ideals and beliefs and their adherence to discipline and principles. It is the special political requirement that the Party organization places on every Party member, the political personality of a qualified Communist Party member, and the cornerstone for Party members and cadres to establish themselves, pursue their careers, articulate their views, and cultivate their virtue. Strong Party spirit is mainly reflected in Party members’ and cadres’ ideals and beliefs, theoretical cultivation, political stance, spirit of responsibility, and sense of discipline, and it is the clear hallmark that distinguishes Communists from ordinary people.

从一般意义上看，党性是政党的固有本性和特有属性，是党员道德品性与政治品性聚合表现出来的鲜明特性。而对中国共产党人而言，党性则彰显着中国共产党人对理想信念的忠贞和对纪律原则的恪守，是党组织对每个党员的特殊政治要求，是合格共产党员的政治人格，是党员干部立身、立业、立言、立德的基石。坚强的党性主要从党员干部的理想信念、理论素养、政治立场、担当精神和纪律意识等方面体现出来，是共产党员区别于普通群众的鲜明标志。

First, firm ideals and beliefs. Belief is the root, conduct is the form; when the root is upright, the form coheres; when the root is not upright, the form inevitably scatters. To maintain and develop the Party’s fine conduct, firm ideals and beliefs are fundamental. Ideals and beliefs are the “master switch” and the essential requirement of the Communists’ original aspiration and founding mission. Only by establishing firm ideals and beliefs can the vast number of Party members and cadres always remain true to their original aspiration and keep their founding mission firmly in mind. Tempering strong Party spirit means always aligning with the Party’s banner, the Party’s will, and the Party’s mission in the face of major issues of principle. It means maintaining a steadfastness of “the heart unmoved by the lure of petty gains, the eyes unblinded by the seduction of the five colors” [5]5 A classical Chinese saying from the Ming dynasty text *Caigen Tan* (Vegetable Roots Discourse), emphasizing the moral value of fear and restraint. amid various interests and temptations. It means displaying the quality of “a thousand blows still strong, let the winds blow from east, west, north, or south” [6]6 A classical Chinese aphorism, likely derived from the *Zuo Zhuan* (Commentary of Zuo) or similar texts, warning against unchecked desire. in the face of trials and storms.

一是坚定的理想信念。信念是本，作风是形，本正而形聚，本不正则形必散。保持和发扬党的优良作风，坚定理想信念是根本。理想信念是“总开关”，是共产党人初心使命的本质要求，广大党员、干部只有树立坚定的理想信念，才能始终做到不忘初心、牢记使命。淬炼坚强的党性，就是要在大是大非面前始终以党的旗帜为旗帜、以党的意志为意志、以党的使命为使命。在各种利益和诱惑面前始终保持“心不动于微利之诱，目不眩于五色之惑”的坚定。在风浪考验面前，始终展现“千磨万击还坚劲，任尔东西南北风”的品质。

Second, profound theoretical cultivation. Political firmness stems from theoretical clarity. Firmness in Party spirit cannot be separated from firmness in theory; only when theory is strong can direction be clear, hearts united, and confidence sufficient. There is no shortcut to enhancing theoretical cultivation; only by constantly delving into theory and continuously absorbing updated knowledge can one maintain a clear mind and correct judgment in the complex and changing social reality. The vast number of Party members and cadres must study, comprehend, and apply Marxism—the essential skill of the house—well, especially deeply studying and thoroughly understanding Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Marxism of contemporary China and the 21st century, mastering the Marxist standpoints, viewpoints, and methods it contains, studying with a sense of responsibility, applying it earnestly in work, and through study, strengthening the foundation of faith, supplementing the calcium of the spirit, and enhancing the ability to practice.

二是深厚的理论素养。政治上的坚定源于理论上的清醒。党性上的坚定离不开理论上的坚定，理论强，才能方向明、人心齐、底气足。增强理论修养别无他途，只有经常钻研理论，不断吸收更新的知识，才能够在复杂纷繁的社会现实中保持清醒头脑、正确判断。广大党员、干部要学习好、领悟好、运用好马克思主义这个看家本领，尤其要深学细悟习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想这一当代中国马克思主义、21世纪马克思主义，掌握蕴含其中的马克思主义立场观点方法，带着责任真学，进入工作真用，通过学习强信仰之基、补精神之钙、增实践之能。

Third, sincere affection for the people. Party spirit is, in the final analysis, a question of standpoint. The people’s standpoint is the Party spirit standpoint of the Communist Party of China; it is the foundation for Communists to establish themselves, their political positioning, and their Party spirit orientation. It is the fundamental embodiment of the principle of Party spirit and the fundamental value and essential connotation of the Party spirit of Chinese Communists. Whether thinking about problems, conducting research, making decisions, or handling affairs, Chinese Communists must stand on the standpoint of the Party and the people, and must not put personal interests first. This is the principle of Party spirit for Chinese Communists. “Every twig and every leaf is bound up with our feelings” [7]7 A Chinese four-character idiom (满盘皆输, mǎn pán jiē shū) meaning total defeat or complete failure, often used in the context of losing everything due to a single misstep.. To temper strong Party spirit, Chinese Communists must firmly take the people’s standpoint, deeply grasp the consistency of Party spirit and people’s nature, always harbor sincere affection for the people, place the people highest in their hearts, always breathe the same air as the people, share their fate, and be heart-to-heart with them, fully unleash the wisdom and strength contained in the masses, and rely on the people to continuously create great historical achievements.

三是真挚的为民情怀。党性说到底就是立场问题。人民立场就是中国共产党的党性立场，是共产党人的立身之本、政治站位和党性定位，是党性原则的根本体现，也是中国共产党党性的根本价值和本质内涵。中国共产党人无论是想问题、搞研究，还是作决策、办事情，都必须站在党和人民立场上，而不能把个人利益放在第一位。这就是中国共产党人的党性原则。“一枝一叶总关情”，中国共产党人锤炼坚强党性就要站稳人民立场，深刻把握党性和人民性的一致性，始终抱有真挚的为民情怀，把人民放在心中最高位置，始终与人民同呼吸、共命运、心连心，把人民群众中蕴藏着的智慧和力量充分激发出来，依靠人民不断创造历史伟业。

Fourth, a strong spirit of responsibility. Whether one dares to take responsibility and shoulder burdens is an important manifestation of a cadre’s Party spirit and conduct. With strong Party spirit, Party members and cadres can step forward at critical moments and come through at times of crisis. Party members and cadres must always possess the political character of “achievements need not be in my tenure” and the sense of responsibility of “success must have my contribution,” leading the masses to dare to brave dangerous rapids, break through ice, storm fortresses, and capture cities, steadily turning established strategic goals and work blueprints into reality.

四是强烈的担当精神。能否敢于负责、勇于担当，是干部党性和作风的重要体现。党性坚强，党员干部才能在关键时刻冲得上去、危难关头豁得出来。党员干部要始终有“功成不必在我”的政治品格和“功成必定有我”的责任担当，带领人民群众敢于涉险滩、破坚冰、攻堡垒、拔城池，脚踏实地把既定的战略目标、工作蓝图变成现实。

Fifth, a strict sense of discipline. Observing discipline and abiding by rules is an important test of Party members’ and cadres’ Party spirit and a key criterion for examining whether Party members and cadres are loyal to the Party. When Party spirit cultivation is good and Party spirit is strong, compliance with Party discipline becomes more conscious. The vast number of Party members and cadres can always adhere to a strict sense of discipline, consciously “benchmark” against the requirements of the Party Central Committee, “scan” themselves with the Party Constitution and intra-Party regulations, internalize discipline and rules into daily behavioral norms used without conscious thought, and practice the oath of loyalty to the Party with concrete actions.

五是严明的纪律意识。守纪律、讲规矩是对党员、干部党性的重要考验，是检验党员、干部对党是否忠诚的重要标准。党性修养好、党性坚强，遵守党纪就会更加自觉，广大党员、干部能够始终坚守严明的纪律意识，自觉同党中央要求“对标”，拿党章党规“扫描”，把纪律、规矩内化为日用而不觉的言行准则，以实际行动践行对党忠诚的誓言。

Party Spirit Education Is a Required Course

党性教育是必修课

To strengthen conduct building, close Party-mass relations, and maintain the Party’s advanced nature and purity, it is necessary to persistently work on the “five constants” [8], continuously strengthening Party spirit cultivation and Party spirit tempering.

加强作风建设，密切党群关系，保持党的先进性和纯洁性，必须持之以恒地从“五常”上下功夫，不断加强党性修养和党性锻炼。

First, forge the will to strive. Firm ideals and beliefs are not achieved overnight, nor are they once and for all; they must be continuously tempered and tested in practice. Chinese Communists must always promote and practice the great founding spirit of the Party, firmly establish confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, consolidate the foundation of faith, supplement the calcium of the spirit, steady the rudder of thought, draw strength for striving, and, with an uplifting and pioneering spirit, work hard, act with real effort, and strive with vigor.

一是砥砺奋进之志。坚定的理想信念不是一蹴而就的，也不是一劳永逸的，必须在实践中不断砥砺、不断检验。中国共产党人要始终弘扬和践行伟大建党精神，坚定中国特色社会主义道路自信、理论自信、制度自信、文化自信，筑牢信仰之基、补足精神之钙、把稳思想之舵、汲取奋进力量，以昂扬向上、开拓进取的精气神埋头苦干、真抓实干、奋发有为。

Second, constantly cultivate the virtue of governance. The way of governance is rooted in self-cultivation. The Party spirit cultivation of Party members and cadres does not naturally improve with the length of Party membership, work experience, or promotion; it requires strengthening self-cultivation, self-restraint, and self-transformation. Constantly cultivating the virtue of governance requires Party members and cadres to always be loyal to the Party, adhere to the correct political direction, maintain political resolve, care for the people, dare to undertake and start undertakings, temper their quality and cultivation, nurture moral integrity, examine themselves against discipline and rules, promptly correct deviations, and continuously enhance their political character, value pursuit, spiritual realm, and conduct integrity, becoming politically clear-headed and honest people, and “doers” in their careers.

二是常修为政之德。为政之道，修身为本，党员干部的党性修养并不是随着党龄、工龄、职务晋升而自然提高，必须强化自我修炼、自我约束、自我改造。常修为政之德要求党员、干部始终对党忠诚，坚持正确政治方向，保持政治定力，心系百姓，敢于干事创业，锤炼品质修养，涵养道德操守，对标纪律规矩检视自我，及时校准偏差，不断提升政治品格、价值追求、精神境界、作风操守，做政治上的明白人、老实人，事业上的“实干家”。

Third, always cherish a heart that is close to the people. The mass line is a heirloom for the Communist Party of China to retain its youthful vitality and combat effectiveness, and it is the fundamental working line of the CPC. Party officials and members must consciously become selfless contributors who are committed to seeking well-being for the people, placing the people in the highest position in their hearts, and following the Party’s mass line in the New Era. In their work, they should always cherish a heart that is close to the people, respect the masses, approach the masses, and understand the masses, follow popular will, resolve people’s concerns, benefit people’s livelihoods, establish and practice a correct outlook on political performance, continuously improve their work ability in serving the masses, use heart, emotion, and effort to solve the people’s urgent, difficult, and anxious problems, always maintain the Party’s flesh-and-blood ties with the people, carry the mass line through the entire process of work, and constantly enhance the people’s sense of gain, happiness, and security.

三是常怀亲民之心。群众路线是中国共产党永葆青春活力和战斗力的传家宝，是中国共产党的根本工作路线。党员干部要自觉做矢志为民造福的无私奉献者，把人民放在心中最高位置，走好新时代党的群众路线。在工作中常怀亲民之心，尊重群众、走进群众、了解群众，顺民意、解民忧、惠民生，树立和践行正确政绩观，不断提高服务群众的工作本领，用心用情用力解决人民群众急难愁盼问题，始终保持党同人民群众的血肉联系，把群众路线贯彻到工作的全过程，不断增强人民群众的获得感、幸福感、安全感。

Fourth, always harbor a sense of reverence. “One who fears dares not act recklessly, and thus virtue is achieved; one who fears nothing follows their desires and meets with disaster.” [5]5 A classical Chinese saying from the Ming dynasty text *Caigen Tan* (Vegetable Roots Discourse), emphasizing the moral value of fear and restraint. The vast number of Party officials and members must always know reverence, harbor caution, and always harbor a sense of reverence—reverence for the Party, reverence for the people, and reverence for laws and discipline—only then can they solidify the foundation of Party spirit. Always harbor a sense of reverence for the Party, remember the identity of a Party member, be loyal to the Party, and at all times align with the Party Central Committee; always harbor a sense of reverence for the people, firmly stand on the people’s side, and always share the same heart and virtue with the people; always harbor a sense of reverence for laws and discipline, study, abide by, and implement the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and Party discipline, and transform external discipline into self-discipline.

四是常存敬畏之念。“畏则不敢肆而德以成，无畏则从其所欲而及于祸”，广大党员干部一定要始终知敬畏、存戒惧，常存敬畏之念，敬畏党、敬畏人民、敬畏法纪，如此方能筑牢党性之基。对党常存敬畏之念，牢记党员身份，忠诚于党，时时刻刻向党中央看齐；对人民常存敬畏之念，站稳人民立场，始终与人民同心同德；对法纪常存敬畏之念，学习遵守贯彻党章党规党纪，把他律转化为自律。

Fifth, always reflect on the calamity of greed. “Desire is like water; if not checked, one drowns oneself.” [6]6 A classical Chinese aphorism, likely derived from the *Zuo Zhuan* (Commentary of Zuo) or similar texts, warning against unchecked desire. Many facts and cases teach us that once one sinks into the quagmire of desire, they will lose Party spirit, lose their direction, and ultimately “lose everything.” [7]7 A Chinese four-character idiom (满盘皆输, mǎn pán jiē shū) meaning total defeat or complete failure, often used in the context of losing everything due to a single misstep. The vast number of Party officials and members must consciously engage in self-reflection, let the alarm bell ring constantly, resolutely break the thinking and behavior of privilege, have “restraint” in their hearts, not be “willful” when holding power, not “act recklessly” when wielding power, always refrain from indulgence, from crossing the line, from overstepping bounds, consciously resist the invasion of unhealthy tendencies, consciously accept supervision, be upright in conduct, honest in work, fulfill duties with dedication, and forever maintain the political essence of Communist Party members being clean, honest, and serving as officials for the people.

五是常思贪欲之祸。“欲如水，不遏则自溺”，诸多事实和案例告诫我们，一旦深陷欲望的泥潭，就会丧失党性，迷失方向，最终“满盘皆输”。广大党员、干部要自觉自省，警钟长鸣，坚决破除特权思想和特权行为，心中有“戒”，有权不“任性”、掌权不“妄为”，始终不放纵、不越轨、不逾矩，自觉抵御歪风邪气的侵袭，自觉接受监督，清白做人、老实干事、履职尽责，永葆共产党人清正廉洁、为官为民的政治本色。

(The author is the Executive Dean and Professor of the Institute of CPC History and Party Building at Sun Yat-sen University.)

（作者系中山大学中共党史党建研究院执行院长、教授）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心