What Kind of Cultivation Should Communists Possess

“On the Cultivation of Communists” is a lecture delivered by Liu Shaoqi at the Marx-Lenin College in Yan’an in July 1939, and is included in the first volume of the *Selected Works of Liu Shaoqi*. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that this text “enriched the theory of Party building and educated generations of Communists.” On the new journey [of the New Era], revisiting this text holds important practical significance for Party members and cadres to keep in mind the Party’s purpose, to properly address the major issues of worldview, outlook on life, and values, and to consciously become steadfast believers and faithful practitioners of the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

《论共产党员的修养》是刘少奇1939年7月在延安马克思列宁学院作的演讲，收录在《刘少奇选集》上卷。习近平总书记指出，这篇文献“丰富了党的建设理论，教育了一代又一代共产党人”。新征程上，重温这篇文献，对于党员、干部牢记党的宗旨，解决好世界观、人生观、价值观的重要问题，自觉做共产主义远大理想和中国特色社会主义共同理想的坚定信仰者和忠实实践者，有着重要的现实意义。

Why Communists Must Strengthen Their Cultivation

共产党员为什么要加强修养

Liu Shaoqi first discusses the necessity for Communists to cultivate their ideological consciousness from the perspective of historical materialism. He points out that “in the continuous struggle with nature, humanity constantly transforms nature, and at the same time constantly transforms itself, transforming the relations among people.” We should regard ourselves as beings that need to be and can be transformed, because this is “a requirement of the objective laws of social development. If we do not do this, we cannot progress, and we cannot fulfill the task of transforming society.” We Communists, as the most advanced revolutionaries in modern history and the modern bearers and promoters of transforming society and the world, should transform ourselves while transforming society and the world, “seeking our own progress and improving our revolutionary quality and capability.”

刘少奇首先从唯物史观的视角，论述了共产党员进行思想意识修养的必要性。他指出，“人类在和自然界的不断斗争中，不断地改造自然界，同时也不断地改造着人类自己，改造着人们彼此间的关系”，我们应该把自己看作是需要而且可能改造的，因为这是“社会发展的客观规律的要求。如果不这样做，我们就不能进步，就不能实现改造社会的任务”。我们共产党员，是近代历史上最先进的革命者，是改造社会、改造世界的现代担当者和推动者，应当在改造社会、改造世界的同时改造自己，“求得自己的进步，提高自己革命的品质和能力”。

At all times, the cultivation of Communists is extremely important. Party members must not only temper themselves in arduous and difficult revolutionary practice but also temper themselves in smooth, successful, and victorious revolutionary practice, intensifying their own cultivation. Liu Shaoqi points out that some Party members “become dizzy with success, and thus become reckless, arrogant, bureaucratized, and even waver, become corrupt, and degenerate, completely losing their original revolutionary nature… The existence of such phenomena within the Party should arouse serious vigilance among our Party members.” He emphasizes that what the Communist Party represents is the exploited proletariat, not the exploiting class; it can carry the revolution through to the end, eliminating all exploitation from human society and eradicating all corrupt and degenerate phenomena. “It can establish a Party with strict organizational discipline and establish state organs that are both centralized and democratic. Through such a Party and state organs, it leads the broad masses of the people in an uncompromising struggle against all corrupt and degenerate phenomena, continuously purging from the Party and state organs those elements that have become corrupt and degenerate (no matter how high an ‘official’ position such elements hold), thereby maintaining the purity of the Party and state organs.” This is a distinctive feature of the proletarian revolutionary party. Our Party members must clearly understand this feature and pay special attention to intensifying the cultivation of their proletarian consciousness, especially at times of revolutionary victory and success, “so as to always maintain their own pure proletarian revolutionary quality and not repeat the mistakes of revolutionaries in past dynasties at the moment of their success.”

无论何时，共产党员的修养都是十分重要的。党员不但要在艰苦的、困难的革命实践中来锻炼自己，而且要在顺利的、成功的、胜利的革命实践中来锻炼自己，加紧自己的修养。刘少奇指出，一些党员“在胜利中昏头昏脑，因而放肆、骄傲、官僚化，以至动摇、腐化和堕落，完全失去他原有的革命性……党内这种现象的存在，应该引起我们党员严重的警惕”。他强调，共产党所代表的是被剥削而不是剥削别人的无产阶级，它能够使革命进行到底，从人类社会中消灭一切剥削，清除一切腐化、堕落现象。“它能够建立有严格组织纪律的党，建立又有集中又有民主的国家机关，经过这样的党和国家机关，领导广大人民群众，来和一切腐化、堕落的现象进行不调和的斗争，不断地从党内和国家机关中清洗那些已经腐化、堕落的分子（不管这种分子是作了多大的‘官’），而保持党和国家机关的纯洁。”这是无产阶级革命政党的鲜明特点。我们的党员必须清楚了解这一特点，特别注意在革命胜利和成功的时候，更要加紧自己的无产阶级意识的修养，“始终保持自己纯洁的无产阶级的革命品质，而不蹈历代革命者在成功时的覆辙”。

Communists Must Undergo “Cultivation in All Aspects in the Long and Great Revolutionary Struggle”

共产党员要在“长期而伟大的革命斗争中进行各方面的修养”

What aspects of cultivation should Communists focus on? Liu Shaoqi elaborates on aspects including arming with scientific theory, tempering political ability, refining ideological and moral character, strengthening the concept of discipline, cultivating a fine work style, implementing the mass line, and enhancing the ability to learn. He points out: “There must be cultivation in Marxist-Leninist theory; cultivation in using the Marxist-Leninist stand, viewpoint, and method to study and handle various problems; cultivation in the proletariat’s revolutionary strategy and tactics; cultivation in the proletariat’s ideological consciousness and moral character; cultivation in upholding inner-Party unity, engaging in criticism and self-criticism, and observing discipline; cultivation in a work style of hard struggle; cultivation in being good at linking with the masses; and cultivation in various scientific knowledge, etc.” These contents of Party member cultivation are also consistent with the requirements of the Party Constitution for qualified Communists.

共产党员要注重哪些方面的修养？刘少奇从科学理论武装、政治能力锻炼、思想品德淬炼、纪律观念加强、优良作风养成、群众路线贯彻以及学习本领提升等方面进行了阐述。他指出：“要有马克思列宁主义理论的修养，要有运用马克思列宁主义的立场、观点和方法去研究和处理各种问题的修养；要有无产阶级的革命战略、战术的修养；要有无产阶级的思想意识和道德品质的修养；要有坚持党内团结、进行批评和自我批评、遵守纪律的修养；要有艰苦奋斗的工作作风的修养；要有善于联系群众的修养，以及各种科学知识的修养等。”这些党员修养的内容，也同党章对合格共产党员的要求相一致。

Communists cannot engage in idealist, formal, abstract cultivation divorced from social practice, as some people in ancient times did. “We are revolutionary materialists; our cultivation cannot be divorced from the revolutionary practice of the masses of the people.” “We must cultivate and temper ourselves in revolutionary practice, and the sole purpose of this cultivation and tempering is for the people, for revolutionary practice.” That is to say, the method by which Communists enhance their cultivation is completely different from other idealist methods of cultivation divorced from the revolutionary practice of the masses of the people; it is a method of combining theory and practice, opposing the separation of theory and practice. “We must humbly learn the Marxist-Leninist stand, viewpoint, and method; learn the noble proletarian qualities of the founders of Marxism-Leninism; and apply them to our own practice, to our own life, words, actions, and work; constantly correct and cleanse from our own ideology everything contrary to these; and strengthen our own proletarian communist consciousness and quality.”

共产党员不能像古代一些人那样进行唯心的、形式的、抽象的、脱离社会实践的修养，“我们是革命的唯物主义者，我们的修养不能脱离人民群众的革命实践”，“要在革命的实践中修养和锻炼，而这种修养和锻炼的唯一目的又是为了人民，为了革命的实践”。也就是说，共产党员提升修养的方法同其他唯心主义的脱离人民群众革命实践的修养方法是完全不同的，它是理论和实践相结合的方法，反对理论和实践的脱离。“我们要虚心地学习马克思列宁主义的立场、观点和方法，学习马克思列宁主义创始人的高贵的无产阶级的品质，并且运用到自己的实践中去，运用到自己的生活、言论、行动和工作中去，不断地改正、清洗自己思想意识中的一切与此相反的东西，增强自己无产阶级共产主义的意识和品质”。

“Seriously Study the Theory and Method of Marxism-Leninism”

“认真地学习马克思列宁主义的理论和方法”

Regarding the specific methods for Communists to enhance their cultivation, Liu Shaoqi particularly emphasizes the need to “seriously study the theory and method of Marxism-Leninism and grasp the spirit and essence of Marxism-Leninism.” He takes the words, deeds, undertakings, and qualities of the classic Marxist writers “as models for our exercise and cultivation.” He points out that although most of our comrades cannot reach a very high level of profundity and erudition in proletarian revolutionary theory, “as long as our comrades truly have determination, truly consciously stand in the position of the proletarian vanguard fighters, truly possess a communist worldview, and never detach themselves from the current great and profound revolutionary movement of the proletariat and all working people, and earnestly study, exercise, and cultivate themselves, then mastering the theory and method of Marxism-Leninism, cultivating a style like that of Marx and Lenin in work and struggle, and continuously improving their own revolutionary quality,” “this is entirely possible.” Liu Shaoqi quotes the view from *Mencius* that “everyone can become a Yao or a Shun” [1]1 Yao and Shun were legendary sage-emperors in ancient China, often held up as models of moral perfection and virtuous rule. The phrase from *Mencius* (a classical Confucian text) means that anyone, through effort, can attain the moral stature of these sages., encouraging every Communist to be down-to-earth, seek truth from facts, work hard at exercise, earnestly cultivate, and gradually improve their own thought and quality as much as possible.

关于共产党员提升修养的具体办法，刘少奇特别强调要“认真地学习马克思列宁主义的理论和方法，掌握马克思列宁主义的精神和实质”。把马克思主义经典作家的言行、事业和品质，“作为我们锻炼和修养的模范”。他指出，虽然我们大多数的同志在无产阶级革命理论方面不能达到十分高深和渊博，但是“我们同志只要真正有决心，真正自觉地始终站在无产阶级先锋战士的岗位，真正具有共产主义的世界观，并且始终不脱离当前无产阶级和一切劳动群众的伟大而深刻的革命运动，努力学习、锻炼和修养，那末，掌握马克思列宁主义的理论和方法，在工作和斗争中培养马克思和列宁那样的作风，不断提高自己的革命品质”，“这是完全可能的”。刘少奇引用《孟子》“人皆可以为尧舜”的观点，鼓励每个共产党员脚踏实地、实事求是、努力锻炼、认真修养，尽可能地逐步提高自己的思想和品质。

How to correctly study Marxism-Leninism? Liu Shaoqi criticizes the mistaken attitude of superficially studying the phrases of Marxism-Leninism and being complacent with memorizing individual principles and conclusions. He emphasizes that the correct attitude should be: seriously study the theory and method of Marxism-Leninism and grasp the spirit and essence of Marxism-Leninism; earnestly engage in self-cultivation in the revolutionary struggle, examining whether one’s handling of affairs, relations with others, and self-conduct conform to the spirit of Marxism-Leninism; thoroughly read the books of Marxism-Leninism while at the same time focusing on investigating and analyzing living reality, studying the characteristics of one’s own era and the various aspects of the situation of the proletariat in one’s own country, and integrating the universal truth of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete practice of the revolution in one’s own country; not be satisfied with memorizing the principles and conclusions of Marxism-Leninism, but stand firmly on the Marxist-Leninist position, master the Marxist-Leninist method, practice it personally, and flexibly guide all revolutionary struggles, transforming reality while simultaneously transforming oneself.

如何正确地学习马克思列宁主义？刘少奇批评了肤浅地学习马克思列宁主义的词句、以背诵个别原理和结论而自满的错误态度，强调正确的态度应当是：认真地学习马克思列宁主义的理论和方法，掌握马克思列宁主义的精神和实质；在革命斗争中认真地去进行自我修养，去检查自己处事、处人、处己是否合乎马克思列宁主义的精神；熟读马克思列宁主义的书籍，同时又着重调查和分析活生生的现实，研究自己所处的时代和本国无产阶级所处的各方面情势的特点，把马克思列宁主义的普遍真理和本国革命的具体实践结合起来；不以背诵马克思列宁主义的原理和结论为满足，而要站在马克思列宁主义的坚定立场上，掌握马克思列宁主义的方法，身体力行，活泼地去指导一切的革命斗争，改造现实，同时改造自己。

In addition to emphasizing the integration of theoretical study and practice, Liu Shaoqi also pointed out the importance of a firm proletarian stance for strengthening Party members’ cultivation: “Communist Party members cannot separate theoretical study from the cultivation of ideological consciousness.” He noted that Marxism-Leninism is the revolutionary science of the proletariat and the science by which the working class builds socialism and communism. Only those who stand thoroughly on the side of the proletariat and take the proletariat’s ideal as their own can fully understand and master it. “All comrades with a firm and pure proletarian stance, all comrades free from personal prejudice and other impure things, as long as they humbly and diligently study the theory of Marxism-Leninism and earnestly grasp the method of seeking truth from facts, will inevitably be quicker and more correct than other comrades in observing and handling various practical problems.” On the one hand, “for a Communist Party member to have a relatively good theoretical cultivation in Marxism-Leninism, he must have a lofty proletarian stance”; on the other hand, only by diligently studying the theory and method of Marxism-Leninism and using them to guide his own thought and action can a Party member uphold the proletarian stance in all revolutionary struggles, embody proletarian ideology, and, under complex and rapidly changing circumstances, “be able to determine the most favorable policies for the proletarian revolutionary cause and represent the overall and long-term interests of the proletarian revolutionary struggle.” Theoretical study and the cultivation of ideological consciousness complement and promote each other.

除了强调理论学习和实践相结合，刘少奇还指出坚定无产阶级立场对于加强党员修养的重要性：“共产党员不能把理论学习和思想意识修养互相割裂开来。”他指出，马克思列宁主义是无产阶级的革命的科学，是工人阶级建设社会主义和共产主义的科学。只有彻底站在无产阶级立场的人，以无产阶级的理想为理想的人，才能彻底了解和掌握它。“一切具有坚定而纯洁的无产阶级立场的同志，一切没有任何个人成见和其他不干净的东西的同志，只要虚心努力地学习马克思列宁主义的理论，切实掌握实事求是的方法，他们在观察和处理各种实际问题的时候，就一定会比其他同志更敏捷而正确。”一方面，“一个共产党员要有比较好的马克思列宁主义的理论修养，就必须有崇高的无产阶级的立场”；另一方面，一个党员只有努力学习马克思列宁主义的理论和方法并用以指导自己的思想和行动，他才能在一切革命斗争中坚持无产阶级的立场，体现无产阶级的思想意识，并在情况复杂和变化剧烈的环境下，“都能够确定对无产阶级革命事业最有利的方针政策，都能够代表无产阶级革命斗争的整体利益和长远利益”。理论学习和思想意识修养是相辅相成、相互促进的。

Today, as we unswervingly advance comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and deepen the great new project of Party building in the New Era, revisiting this document can yield many insights. At present, facing new situations and tasks, in order to maintain the advanced nature and purity of Communist Party members and give full play to their vanguard and exemplary role, it remains necessary for every Party member to strengthen their own exercise and cultivation in all aspects. We must earnestly study the Party’s innovative theory, persistently use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to solidify the soul, and deeply understand the series of requirements in this thought regarding firming up ideals and convictions, raising ideological realms, and strengthening Party spirit, so as to always maintain the political essence of Communists. We must adhere to the integration of learning, thinking, and application, and the unity of knowledge, belief, and action, transforming the fruits of study into a mental state of pioneering and innovation and a conscious action of practical work, continuously improving our ability and level to fulfill duties and responsibilities, daring to take responsibility, and doing our own work down to earth, so as to contribute our own strength to comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.

在坚定不移全面从严治党、深入推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程的今天，重温这篇文献，能够获得诸多启示。当前，面对新的形势和任务，为保持共产党员的先进性和纯洁性，充分发挥共产党员的先锋模范作用，仍然需要每个党员从各方面加强自己的锻炼和修养。我们要认真学习党的创新理论，坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，深刻领会这一思想关于坚定理想信念、提升思想境界、加强党性锻炼等一系列要求，始终保持共产党人的政治本色。坚持学思用贯通、知信行统一，把学习成果转化为开拓创新的精神状态和真抓实干的自觉行动，不断提高履职尽责能力和水平，勇于担当，脚踏实地做好本职工作，为以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴贡献自己的力量。

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心