The Triple Implications of “Maintaining Historical Patience”

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized “maintaining historical patience” on multiple occasions. In the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: “China’s overall modernization of its more than 1.4 billion people will be on a scale greater than the total population of all developed countries combined; its difficulty and complexity are unprecedented, and the development path and methods of advancement will inevitably have their own characteristics. We always think, make decisions, and act based on the national conditions, neither aiming too high nor sticking to old ways. We maintain historical patience, adhere to the principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, advance step by step, and continue to push forward.” At the Central Urban Work Conference held on July 14, 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The industrialization process took the West several hundred years, but we have accomplished it in just a few decades. At a deeper level, there are still many shortcomings in our industrialization that require time to address. The same applies to urbanization; we cannot have a decent exterior but a poor interior, and we must not engage in things that seek quick success or instant benefits. Some tasks require a tough battle, while others require sustained, long-term effort.” These important expositions profoundly clarify the rationale that advancing Chinese-path modernization requires maintaining historical patience. From the perspectives of history and reality, theory and practice, maintaining historical patience has multiple implications.

党的十八大以来，习近平总书记在多个场合反复强调“保持历史耐心”。在党的二十大报告中，习近平总书记强调：“我国十四亿多人口整体迈进现代化社会，规模超过现有发达国家人口的总和，艰巨性和复杂性前所未有，发展途径和推进方式也必然具有自己的特点。我们始终从国情出发想问题、作决策、办事情，既不好高骛远，也不因循守旧，保持历史耐心，坚持稳中求进、循序渐进、持续推进。”在2025年7月14日召开的中央城市工作会议上，习近平总书记指出：“工业化进程，西方走了几百年，而我们只用了几十年。深层次看，我们工业化的短板还很多，要花时间去补。城镇化也是这样，不能面子可以、里子不行，不要搞急于求成、急功近利的事情。有些事要打攻坚战，有些事要久久为功。”这些重要论述，深刻阐明了推进中国式现代化必须保持历史耐心的道理所在。从历史与现实、理论与实践等角度来看，保持历史耐心具有多重意蕴。

The Dialectical Character of “Maintaining Historical Patience”

“保持历史耐心”的辩证品格

So-called historical patience refers to the long-term historical vision, steady strategic arrangements, and composed spiritual quality that a historical subject, based on grasping the laws of history and confirming historical experience, displays when facing long-term and complex historical tasks. Maintaining historical patience embodies our Party’s rational understanding and self-requirement regarding the strategic resolve and mental state necessary to accomplish major historical tasks, and it manifests a rich and profound dialectical implication.

所谓历史耐心，意指历史主体基于对历史规律的把握、历史经验的确证，面对长期性、复杂性的历史任务而表现出来的长远的历史眼光、稳健的战略安排、从容的精神品质。保持历史耐心，体现了我们党对完成重大历史任务所必需的战略定力、精神状态的理性认识和自我要求，体现了丰富而深刻的辩证法意蕴。

The spiritual trait of following laws and taking the initiative. Dialectical materialism tells us that respecting objective laws and exerting subjective initiative are dialectically unified. Historical development has its laws, but humans are not entirely passive within it. For example, from the perspective of the laws of human social development, communism will ultimately be realized, but this requires a very long historical process and cannot be separated from the unremitting efforts of the proletariat and its political party. Lacking historical patience and attempting to “race into communism” will undoubtedly incur the punishment of historical laws. Another example: from the perspective of modernization, urbanization of the population is a universal international characteristic with its own objective laws. Solving this problem in the process of Chinese-path modernization requires sufficient historical patience. At the Central Urban Work Conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed, “Let rural revitalization and urban development be organically integrated,” “The current urban-rural population flow is still of a migratory bird type. The balanced transformation between urban and rural residents must be reflected in policies,” and “This process must maintain sufficient historical patience.” Of course, maintaining historical patience does not mean passive waiting or inaction; rather, it means acting actively and seizing opportunities based on grasping the laws and general trends of historical development, with an attitude of being responsible to history. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “Be adept at both accumulating, building, and planning momentum, and at recognizing changes, responding to changes, and seeking changes.” “Being adept at accumulating, building, and planning momentum” means following objective laws; “being adept at recognizing changes, responding to changes, and seeking changes” means exercising historical initiative.

遵循规律、掌握主动的精神特质。唯物辩证法告诉我们，尊重客观规律性与发挥主观能动性是辩证统一的。历史发展有其规律，但人在其中不是完全消极被动的。例如，从人类社会发展规律来看，共产主义终将实现，但这需要经历一个很长的历史过程，离不开工人阶级及其政党坚持不懈的努力。缺乏历史耐心，试图“跑步进入共产主义”，无疑要遭受历史规律的惩罚。再如，从现代化角度来看，人口城镇化是国际普遍性特征，有其客观规律性，在中国式现代化进程中解决这个问题，要有足够的历史耐心。习近平总书记在中央城市工作会议上提出，“让乡村振兴和城市发展能有机结合在一起”“现在的城乡人口流动还是候鸟型的。市民和农民之间的平衡转化，要体现在政策上”“这个过程要保持足够的历史耐心”。当然，保持历史耐心，并不意味着消极等待、无所作为，而是要本着对历史负责的态度，在把握历史发展规律和大势的基础上积极作为、乘势而上。习近平总书记强调，“既善于积势蓄势谋势，又善于识变求变应变”。“善于积势蓄势谋势”，就是要遵循客观规律；“善于识变求变应变”，就是要发挥历史主动。

The spiritual bearing of composure and measured pace. Possessing historical patience is a traditional advantage of the Chinese nation. “Excellent traditional Chinese culture has been passed down from generation to generation, and the resilience, patience, and resolve it demonstrates are part of the Chinese national spirit.” The Chinese nation firmly believes in the objectivity of time and the fairness of history, upholds concepts such as “haste makes waste” and “slow work yields fine products,” and thus can endure the test of time with great patience; it adheres to ancient maxims like “effort is never in vain” and “when conditions are ripe, success will come naturally,” and thus can face necessary sacrifices with composure and have unwavering faith in the rewards of history. Only with confidence and clarity in mind can one remain calm and composed. Maintaining historical patience, for a ruling party, means that “governance values constancy, and administration requires regularity,” striving with a sense of urgency without focusing solely on the success or failure of a single day, and acting calmly and persistently. “Tension and relaxation are the way of civil and military affairs.” Tension and relaxation, speed and slowness, manifest the philosophy of time and the logic of development. To advance economic and social development, one must master the rhythm of speed and slowness. Speed means seizing the initiative, acting promptly once the direction is clear, making progress while stabilizing the situation, striving not to stop or delay, and aiming for the best possible outcome. Slowness means being patient, avoiding the urge for quick success, and preventing the mistake of impatience. Being patient is a matter of spiritual composure, not a slackening of practical action. Being both composed and bold in action embodies the dialectics of tension and relaxation, speed and slowness.

从容不迫、张弛有度的精神气度。拥有历史耐心是中华民族的传统优势。“中华优秀传统文化代代相传，表现出的韧性、耐心、定力，是中华民族精神的一部分。”中华民族坚信时间的客观、历史的公正，秉持“欲速则不达”“慢工出细活”的理念，因而能以极大的耐心忍受时间的考验；秉持“功不唐捐”“水到渠成”的古训，因而能对必要的付出从容不迫，对历史的回报深信不疑。胸有成竹、心中有数，才能气定神闲。保持历史耐心，对于执政党而言，意味着“政贵有恒，治须有常”，只争朝夕地奋斗而又不只看一朝一夕之成败，淡定从容又持续不断地有所作为。一张一弛，文武之道。张与弛、快与慢，彰显时间的哲学、发展的逻辑。推进经济社会发展，必须掌握快与慢的节奏。快，就要抢占先机，看准了就抓紧干，在稳住阵脚的基础上积极进取，争取不停步、不耽误，争取最好结果。慢，就要沉得住气，不能急于求成，防止犯急躁病。沉得住气，是精神气质的从容，而不是实际行动的懈怠。既从容不迫，更放开手脚，体现的是张弛有度、快慢相济的辩证法。

The mental state of planning for the long term and acting in the present. The long term and the present concern the goal planning and current actions for promoting economic and social development. Maintaining historical patience requires both long-term planning and immediate action. It demands a spiritual realm of “achievements need not be mine” and a historical responsibility of “achievements must be mine.” This spiritual realm and historical responsibility often require long-term consideration and verification by time. For example, to advance Chinese-path modernization, we must focus on resolving the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development. Solving the problem of unbalanced urban-rural regional development and comprehensively promoting rural revitalization cannot be rushed and cannot be hurried. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Implementing the rural revitalization strategy is a long-term and arduous task. We must follow the laws of rural construction, plan for the long term and act after careful deliberation, adhere to scientific planning, focus on quality, and build at a measured pace. We should concentrate on phased tasks, find breakthroughs, set priorities, handle one thing after another, work year after year, persist for a long time, and accumulate small victories into great successes.” Another example: to ensure the mother river remains vibrant and dynamic, the Party Central Committee promoted the “ten-year fishing ban” on the Yangtze River; to ensure the Party and the nation’s cause has successors, the Party Central Committee advances the building of a strong education country with the vision of a “century-long plan”; with a high sense of responsibility to the nation and history, the Party Central Committee plans the construction of the Xiong’an New Area with the boldness of a “millennium plan,” demonstrating far-sighted long-term planning; and the successive implementation of five-year plans writes the action philosophy of acting in the present.

谋划长远、干在当下的精神状态。长远与当下，关涉推动经济社会发展的目标谋划与当前行动。保持历史耐心，要有长远谋划，也要有当下行动，必须有功成不必在我的精神境界和功成必定有我的历史担当，这种精神境界、历史担当，往往需要长远的考量、时间的验证。例如，推进中国式现代化，必须着力解决好发展不平衡不充分问题。而解决城乡区域发展不平衡问题，全面推进乡村振兴，急不得，也急不来。习近平总书记指出：“实施乡村振兴战略是一项长期而艰巨的任务，要遵循乡村建设规律，着眼长远谋定而后动，坚持科学规划、注重质量、从容建设，聚焦阶段任务，找准突破口，排出优先序，一件事情接着一件事情办，一年接着一年干，久久为功，积小胜为大成。”再如，为了让母亲河永葆生机活力，党中央推动长江“十年禁渔”；为了确保党和国家的事业后继有人，党中央以“百年大计”的眼光推进教育强国建设；本着对民族和历史高度负责的精神，党中央以“千年大计”的气魄擘画雄安新区建设，彰显了谋划长远的高瞻远瞩；而接续实施的五年规划，则书写着干在当下的行动哲学。

The Strategic Considerations of “Maintaining Historical Patience”

“保持历史耐心”的战略考量

“Strategic issues are fundamental issues for a political party and a country. If strategic judgments are accurate, strategic planning is scientific, and strategic initiative is gained, the cause of the Party and the people will have great hope.” Maintaining historical patience has significant strategic significance.

“战略问题是一个政党、一个国家的根本性问题。战略上判断得准确，战略上谋划得科学，战略上赢得主动，党和人民事业就大有希望。”保持历史耐心，具有重大战略意义。

A summary of historical experience. The historical experience of the CPC over more than a century shows that an important reason why the Party has been able to unite and lead the people to forge ahead lies in its profound understanding of historical laws, its appropriate grasp of the rhythm of historical development, and its maintenance of historical patience. The fourteen-year War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression forged an indomitable Chinese spirit; the twenty-eight years of arduous struggle shaped a brand-new republic. From the construction of major projects such as the Three Gorges Project, the West-to-East Gas Pipeline, and the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, to the development of high-speed railways, the manufacturing of large aircraft, and progress in aerospace technology, and to the comprehensive victory in the fight against poverty, these are all successful practices of carrying forward the “nail-spirit” and maintaining historical patience for sustained advancement. “With a tiny stone in its beak, it longs for the sea to be leveled.” [1]1 A classical allusion from the Tang dynasty poet Han Yu’s essay “On the Delivery of Stones,” describing the mythical bird Jingwei’s determination to fill the sea with pebbles, symbolizing relentless perseverance. The domestically produced large aircraft C919 took 16 years from project approval to commercial flight, overcoming more than 100 major technical challenges before finally soaring into the sky. The slogan “long-term struggle, long-term tackling of key problems, long-term endurance of hardship, long-term dedication” prominently displayed at the headquarters of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. proclaims a long-termist work attitude and manifests the historical patience of the Chinese nation. “History is the best textbook and the best sobering agent.” In terms of maintaining historical patience, our Party has both accumulated valuable historical experience and had profound historical lessons. For example, during the New Democratic Revolution period, mistakes such as “Left” putschism and “Left” adventurism were made; during the period of socialist revolution and construction, mistakes such as the “Great Leap Forward” movement and the people’s commune movement occurred. [2]2 The “Great Leap Forward” (1958-1961) was a campaign for rapid industrialization and collectivization that led to severe economic difficulties and famine; the people’s commune movement (1958-1980s) was a collectivization policy that reorganized rural society into large communes. The causes of these mistakes are multifaceted, and the lack of historical patience is undoubtedly an important one. Maintaining historical patience is a profound summary of both positive and negative historical experiences.

历史发展的经验总结。中国共产党百余年奋斗的历史经验表明，党之所以能够团结带领人民砥砺前行，一条重要经验就在于对历史规律的深刻认识、对历史发展节奏的恰当把握，就在于保持历史耐心。十四年的持久抗战，铸就不屈的中华魂；二十八年的艰苦卓绝，锻造了崭新的共和国。从建设三峡工程、西气东输、南水北调等重大工程，到高铁发展、大飞机制造、航天科技进步，再到脱贫攻坚战取得全面胜利，都是发扬钉钉子精神、保持历史耐心持续推进的成功实践。“口衔山石细，心望海波平”。国产大飞机C919从立项到商业飞行，历时16年，先后攻克100多项重大技术难关，最终一飞冲天。中国商飞总部基地高高悬挂的“长期奋斗、长期攻关、长期吃苦、长期奉献”标语，宣示的是长期主义的工作态度，彰显的是中华民族的历史耐心。“历史是最好的教科书，也是最好的清醒剂。”在保持历史耐心方面，我们党既积累了宝贵的历史经验，也曾有过深刻的历史教训。例如，新民主主义革命时期先后犯过“左”倾盲动主义、“左”倾冒险主义等错误，社会主义革命和建设时期先后出现“大跃进”运动、人民公社化运动等错误。这些错误产生的原因是多方面的，缺乏历史耐心无疑是重要的一条。保持历史耐心，是对正反两方面历史经验的深刻总结。

A far-reaching plan that keeps in mind the “two overall situations” [1]1 A classical allusion from the Tang dynasty poet Han Yu’s essay “On the Delivery of Stones,” describing the mythical bird Jingwei’s determination to fill the sea with pebbles, symbolizing relentless perseverance.. At present, the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world are intertwined and mutually reinforcing, constituting the distinct and prominent features of our era. Domestically, having entered the New Era, China’s development stands at a new historical starting point; the principal contradiction in society has undergone a historic transformation; we possess favorable development conditions that were previously unimaginable; and the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process. At the same time, it must be recognized that we currently face many unprecedented difficulties and problems, with strategic opportunities and risk challenges coexisting, and uncertain and unpredictable factors increasing. Faced with an ultra-large-scale population, the characteristics of “temporal-spatial compression” [2]2 The “Great Leap Forward” (1958-1961) was a campaign for rapid industrialization and collectivization that led to severe economic difficulties and famine; the people’s commune movement (1958-1980s) was a collectivization policy that reorganized rural society into large communes., and contradictions superimposed across multiple periods, advancing Chinese-path modernization requires guarding against arrogance and impatience and maintaining historical patience. Internationally, the world today presents a series of unprecedented new phenomena and characteristics: revolutionary changes in the balance of international forces are unprecedented; the metabolism and intense competition brought about by a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation are unprecedented; and the mismatch and asymmetry between the global governance system and changes in the international situation are unprecedented. At the same time, local conflicts and turbulence occur frequently, global problems intensify, various predictable and unpredictable risk challenges increase, and the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. Currently, a few countries, driven by hegemonic thinking and selfish interests, attempt to impose so-called “mid-range interception” on Chinese-path modernization, resorting to all means to launch various external suppressions and containments against China. Faced with this complex and severe external environment, we must maintain historical patience and strategic resolve, neither confused by temporary events nor disturbed by high winds and raging waves.

胸怀“两个大局”的深远谋划。当前，中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局同步交织、相互激荡，构成了我们这个时代鲜明而显著的特征。从国内看，进入新时代，我国发展站在了新的历史起点上，社会主要矛盾发生历史性变化，我们具备过去难以想象的良好发展条件，实现中华民族伟大复兴进入了不可逆转的历史进程。同时应看到，当前我们也面临着许多前所未有的困难和问题，战略机遇和风险挑战并存、不确定难预料因素增多。面对超大规模的人口、“时空压缩”的特点、多期叠加的矛盾，推进中国式现代化必须戒骄戒躁、保持历史耐心。从国际上看，当今世界呈现出一系列前所未有的新现象、新特征，国际力量对比的革命性变化前所未有，新一轮科技革命和产业变革带来的新陈代谢和激烈竞争前所未有，全球治理体系与国际形势变化的不适应、不对称前所未有。同时，局部冲突和动荡频发，全球性问题加剧，各种可以预料和难以预料的风险挑战增多，世界进入新的动荡变革期。当前，少数国家出于霸权思维和一己私利，企图对中国式现代化实施所谓“中段拦截”，不择手段地发动各种针对中国的外部打压遏制。面对这种复杂严峻的外部环境，我们必须保持历史耐心、战略定力，不为一时一事所惑，不为风高浪急所扰。

The inherent requirement of high-quality development. Dialectical materialism holds that quantitative accumulation leads to qualitative leaps, and qualitative leaps promote new quantitative accumulation; this alternating cycle constitutes the process of development of things. In terms of economic development, the inherent logic is the same. Data shows that since the 1960s, among more than 100 middle-income economies globally, only a dozen have successfully transitioned into high-income economies. These successful countries have generally undergone a transformation of their development model after a period of high-speed growth, shifting from quantitative expansion to qualitative improvement. In contrast, those that failed did not achieve such a transformation. High-quality development is the primary task of building a modern socialist country in all respects and the hard truth of the New Era. The shift from a stage of high-speed growth to a stage of high-quality development is not easy and cannot be achieved overnight. Through sustained efforts in recent years, high-quality development has achieved notable results, with the current economy showing characteristics of relatively fast growth, optimized structure, and improved quality and efficiency. At the same time, China’s economy still faces many challenges in sustaining its recovery and upward trajectory, and further promoting high-quality development still requires continuous effort. To resolve issues reflecting changes in the principal contradiction in society, especially those of unbalanced and inadequate development, it is necessary to further deepen reform comprehensively, promote it from the institutional and mechanistic level, and gradually raise ideological understanding, transform development concepts, and strengthen work capabilities. In short, high-quality development is a long-term and arduous task that cannot be accomplished in a single day; it requires maintaining historical patience and unswervingly advancing it persistently.

高质量发展的内在要求。唯物辩证法认为，量的积累引起质的飞跃，质的飞跃促成新的量的积累，如此交替循环，构成事物的发展过程。就经济发展而言，内在的道理也是如此。有资料表明，20世纪60年代以来，在全球100多个中等收入经济体中，只有十几个成功跻身高收入经济体。这些取得成功的国家，基本上都经历了高速增长阶段后的发展方式转变，实现了从量的扩张转向质的提高。而那些未成功的国家，则未能实现发展方式的转变。高质量发展是全面建设社会主义现代化国家的首要任务，是新时代的硬道理。高速增长阶段转向高质量发展阶段并不容易，不可能一夜之间就实现。经过近年来持续不断的努力，高质量发展取得明显成效，当前经济呈现增长较快、结构优化、质效向好的特征。同时，我国经济持续回升向好仍面临诸多挑战，进一步推动高质量发展仍需要持续发力。解决那些反映社会主要矛盾变化、特别是发展不平衡不充分的问题，必须进一步全面深化改革，从体制机制上推动，逐步提高思想认识、转变发展观念、强化工作能力。总之，高质量发展是一个长期性、艰巨性任务，绝非一日之功，必须保持历史耐心，坚定不移持续推进。

Practical requirements for “maintaining historical patience”

“保持历史耐心”的实践要求

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes, “We must always think ahead, be prepared for danger in

习近平总书记强调，“我们要常怀远虑、居安思危，保持战略定力和耐心，‘致广大而尽精微’”。“致广大”强调谋划时登高望远、统揽大局，“尽精微”要求操作中细致精当、积微成著。“致广大而尽精微”是成事之道，也是保持历史耐心的实践遵循。具体而言，主要体现在以下方面。

Adhere to a grand view of history and strengthen confidence in Chinese-path modernization. One who fails to plan for the long term cannot manage the moment. Only by establishing a grand view of history, “analyzing the mechanisms of evolution and exploring historical laws from the long river of history, the tide of the times, and global trends,” can we propose corresponding strategies and enhance the systematic, forward-looking, and creative nature of our work. “Viewed from the broad perspective of 500 years of world socialism, we are still in the historical epoch indicated by Marxism.” Socialism will ultimately replace capitalism, but the road forward will inevitably encounter twists and turns. In viewing this historical process, we must grasp the dialectical relationship between progress and setbacks. If we only see progress, we easily become blindly optimistic; if we only see setbacks, we easily become passively

坚持大历史观，坚定中国式现代化的信心。不谋万世者，不足谋一时。只有树立大历史观，“从历史长河、时代大潮、全球风云中分析演变机理、探究历史规律”，才能提出因应的战略策略，增强工作的系统性、预见性、创造性。“从世界社会主义500年的大视野来看，我们依然处在马克思主义所指明的历史时代”。社会主义终将取代资本主义，但前进道路上难免遇到曲折。看待这一历史过程，必须把握前进性与曲折性的辩证关系。如果只看前进性，就容易盲目乐观；只看曲折性，则容易消极悲观。习近平总书记指出：“毛泽东同志也常说，前途是光明的，道路是曲折的。这是一切正义事业发展的历史逻辑。”

Grasping the historical orientation of Chinese-path modernization from the perspective of a grand view of history allows us to recognize more deeply the significance of Chinese-path modernization for China and the world, thereby strengthening our firmness that the path must not be changed and the resolve must not be shaken. Practice has proven that Chinese-path modernization is workable and stable, and is the only correct path for building a strong country and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. As the largest and most difficult modernization in human history, Chinese-path modernization will encounter various risks and challenges along the way. In this regard, we must maintain a clear understanding, and maintain historical patience and strategic resolve. “We have the determination and confidence to overcome various risks and challenges. No matter how the external environment changes, China will firmly handle its own affairs well.”

以大历史观的视野来把握中国式现代化的历史方位，我们就能更加深刻认识到中国式现代化的中国意义、世界意义，从而增强道不变、志不改的坚定。实践证明，中国式现代化走得通、行得稳，是强国建设、民族复兴的唯一正确道路。作为人类历史上规模最大、难度最大的现代化，中国式现代化在前进道路上会遇到各种风险挑战。对此，我们要保持清醒认知，保持历史耐心和战略定力。“我们有决心和信心战胜各种风险挑战。无论外部环境如何变化，中国都将坚定办好自己的事。”

Rectify the outlook on political performance and practice the original aspiration of serving the people. Maintaining historical patience embodies a view of time. Behind the view of time lie the outlook on political performance, values, and the view of the masses, as well as the way of governance. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Nowadays, some leading cadres do not have pure motives for their work, tying their work to personal fame and gain. Some, in order to gain capital for promotion, emphasize visible achievements over latent ones, prioritize face over substance, and are prone to grandiosity and impatience for quick success.” If the outlook on political performance goes wrong and the original aspiration of serving the people is forgotten, it becomes impossible to settle down and immerse oneself in work. “Communists must remember that bringing benefit to the people is the greatest political achievement. When we plan and advance work, we must adhere to the fundamental purpose of wholeheartedly serving the people.” Achieving this provides a solid value foundation for maintaining historical patience.

端正政绩观，践行为人民服务的初心。保持历史耐心，体现的是时间观。时间观的背后，则是政绩观、价值观、群众观，是为政之道。习近平总书记指出：“现在，一些领导干部做事动机并不那么纯正，把干事和个人名利捆绑在一起。有的为了获取升迁资本，重显绩轻潜绩、重面子轻里子，好大喜功、急功近利。”政绩观出了问题，忘了为人民服务的初心，就不可能沉下心来、扑下身子。“共产党人必须牢记，为民造福是最大政绩。我们谋划推进工作，一定要坚持全心全意为人民服务的根本宗旨”。做到了这一点，保持历史耐心就有了牢固的价值支撑。

In Chinese-path modernization, the people’s livelihood is paramount. Forging ahead on the new journey, we must more consciously and firmly take the people’s aspiration for a better life as our goal of struggle, and persistently implement the responsibilities of various reforms and development. China has a long history, a vast territory, and a large population. The arduousness, complexity, and heaviness of solving livelihood issues are rare in the world. On the path forward, there will be “roadblocking tigers” to encounter and “hard bones” to gnaw. We must adhere to the realm of not seeking personal credit for success, grasp the most direct and realistic issues of greatest concern to the people, handle one matter after another, and work year after year. History and reality both tell us that as long as the Party and the people always stand together, think together, and work together, no storm can shake our iron will, and no difficulty can stop our resolute steps.

中国式现代化，民生为大。奋进新征程，我们必须更加自觉、更加坚定地将人民对美好生活的向往作为奋斗目标，持之以恒地把各项改革发展的责任落到实处。中国历史悠久、幅员辽阔、人口众多，解决民生问题的艰巨性、复杂性、繁重性可谓世所罕见，前进道路上会遇到“拦路虎”，要啃“硬骨头”。要坚持功成不必在我的境界，抓住人民最关心最直接最现实的利益问题，一件事情接着一件事情办，一年接着一年干。历史和现实都告诉我们，只要党和人民始终站在一起、想在一起、干在一起，任何风浪都动摇不了我们的钢铁意志，任何困难都阻挡不了我们的铿锵步伐。

Carry forward the spirit of struggle, and strengthen the resolve to dare to struggle and be adept at struggle. “In battle, courage is key.” Resolve is courage. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “In the face of major risks and powerful opponents, always wanting to live a peaceful life and not wanting to struggle is unrealistic; suffering from ‘osteomalacia’ and ‘phobia’ is useless.” Daring to struggle and being adept at struggle are proactive actions to consciously shoulder historical missions, maintain historical patience, and create historical achievements.

发扬斗争精神，增强敢于斗争、善于斗争的决心。“夫战，勇气也。”决心就是勇气。习近平总书记指出：“在重大风险、强大对手面前，总想过太平日子、不想斗争是不切实际的，得‘软骨病’、患‘恐惧症’是无济于事的。”敢于斗争、善于斗争，是自觉肩负历史使命、保持历史耐心、创造历史伟业的主动作为。

To carry forward the spirit of struggle, we must remember the principle that to forge iron, one must be strong oneself, and resolutely struggle against corrupt practices that harm the Party’s vitality and erode the people’s interests. Since the New Era, the intensity of advancing comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and the anti-corruption struggle has been unprecedented, and the results are evident to all. The current situation of the anti-corruption struggle remains severe and complex, and the task of eradicating the soil and conditions for corruption remains arduous and heavy. To deepen the anti-corruption struggle, we must resolutely implement the deployments of the Party Central Committee, always maintain the tenacity and perseverance that the anti-corruption struggle is always on the way, maintain strategic resolve and a high-pressure posture, not stop for a single step and not retreat for half a step, and integratively advance the mechanisms that ensure officials dare not, cannot, and do not want to be corrupt, resolutely fighting this tough, protracted, and overall battle.

发扬斗争精神，必须牢记打铁必须自身硬的道理，坚决同危害党的生命力、侵蚀人民利益的腐败现象作斗争。新时代以来，推进全面从严治党和反腐败斗争力度之大前所未有，成效有目共睹。当前反腐败斗争形势仍然严峻复杂，铲除腐败滋生土壤和条件的任务仍然艰巨繁重。纵深推进反腐败斗争，必须坚决贯彻落实党中央的部署，始终保持反腐败永远在路上的坚韧执着，保持战略定力和高压态势，一步不停歇、半步不退让，一体推进不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐，坚决打好这场攻坚战、持久战、总体战。

To carry forward the spirit of struggle, we must resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests, and never allow any external force to bully, oppress, or enslave us. The Chinese people do not believe in evil, are not afraid of ghosts, and are not intimidated by pressure. In the face of unreasonable provocations, suppression, and containment by external forces, we must launch effective international criticism, adopt targeted countermeasures, and adjust our struggle strategies in a timely manner according to changes in the situation, uniting all forces that can be united and mobilizing all positive factors. China will continue to work with all peace-loving countries and peoples to resolutely carry out the struggle against hegemonism, striving to “win unity through struggle, seek cooperation through struggle, and achieve win-win outcomes through struggle.” [5]

发扬斗争精神，必须坚决维护我国主权、安全、发展利益，绝不允许任何外来势力欺负、压迫、奴役我们。中国人民不信邪、不怕鬼、不怕压。面对外部势力的无理挑衅、打压遏制，我们必须展开有力的国际批判、采取有针对性的反制措施，并根据形势变化及时调整斗争策略，团结一切可以团结的力量，调动一切积极因素。中国将继续同一切爱好和平的国家和人民一道，坚决开展反对霸权主义的斗争，力求“在斗争中争取团结，在斗争中谋求合作，在斗争中争取共赢”。

(Author: Sun Laibin, specially appointed researcher of the Beijing Research

（作者：孙来斌，系北京市习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心特约研究员、北京大学马克思主义学院教授）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心