Advancing Self-Revolution Must Consolidate the Foundation, Nurture the Roots, and Strengthen Party Spirit

General Secretary Xi Jinping has stressed: “To advance self-revolution, we must consolidate the foundation, nurture the roots, and strengthen Party spirit. Strengthening Party spirit hinges on firming up ideals and convictions, forging loyalty to the Party, deepening the sentiment of serving the people, refining moral character, and maintaining clean and honest governance.” A profound grasp of this important exposition is of great significance for us to fully recognize the important role that Party spirit plays in advancing the Party’s self-revolution, to effectively implement the requirements for strengthening Party spirit, and to forever preserve the advanced nature and integrity of Communists.

习近平总书记强调：“推进自我革命，必须固本培元、增强党性。增强党性，重在坚定理想信念，铸牢对党忠诚，厚植为民情怀，纯正道德品质，保持清正廉洁。”深刻领会这一重要论述，对于我们充分认清党性在推进党的自我革命中发挥的重要作用，切实把增强党性的要求落到实处，永葆共产党人的先进性和纯洁性，具有十分重要的意义。

I. Firming Up Ideals and Convictions

一、坚定理想信念

The Communist Party of China is a political organization united by a common revolutionary ideal. Ideals and convictions are the political soul of Communists and the foundation of their existence. Firming up ideals and convictions and坚守 the spiritual pursuit of Communists have always been the key to Party members and cadres strengthening their Party spirit and forging an “indestructible body.” [1]1 A classical Chinese saying from the *Zuo Zhuan* (Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals), emphasizing loyalty as the highest moral virtue. The vast majority of Party members and cadres must take firming up ideals and convictions as a lifelong task, constantly cultivate and refine the Communists’ “study of the mind,” [2]2 The "Two Establishments" (两个确立) refer to the establishment of Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and the establishment of the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. shore up the foundation of faith, replenish the calcium of the spirit, and steady the helm of thought.

中国共产党是靠共同的革命理想凝聚起来的政治组织，理想信念是共产党人的政治灵魂和安身立命之本。坚定理想信念，坚守共产党人精神追求，始终是党员干部增强党性、炼就“金刚不坏之身”的关键所在。广大党员、干部必须把坚定理想信念作为终身课题，常修常炼共产党人的“心学”，筑牢信仰之基、补足精神之钙、把稳思想之舵。

Firming up ideals and convictions through deeply studying and thoroughly understanding the Party’s innovative theories. The firmness of ideals and convictions comes from the firmness of ideological theory. Recognizing truth, mastering truth, believing in truth, and defending truth are the spiritual prerequisites for firming up ideals and convictions. The ideals and convictions of Chinese Communists are built on the foundation of the scientific truth of Marxism. The vast majority of Party members and cadres must unremittingly arm their minds with the Party’s scientific theories, deeply

在学深悟透党的创新理论中坚定理想信念。理想信念的坚定，来自思想理论的坚定。认识真理、掌握真理、信仰真理、捍卫真理，是坚定理想信念的精神前提。中国共产党人的理想信念，建立在马克思主义科学真理的基础之上。广大党员、干部必须坚持不懈用党的科学理论武装头脑，深入学习领会习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，坚持读原著、学原文、悟原理，真正把马克思主义这个看家本领学精悟透用好。把学习成果转化为不可撼动的理想信念，转化为正确的世界观、人生观、价值观，用理想之光照亮奋斗之路，用信仰之力开创美好未来。

In deeply grasping the laws of historical development, we must fortify our ideals and convictions. Only by understanding history can we see far; only by comprehending history can we go far. The ideals and convictions of Chinese Communists are built upon the foundation of the laws of the development of human society as revealed by Marxism. The broad masses of Party members and cadres should earnestly study the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, and the history of socialist development, persist in taking history as a mirror, analyze the mechanisms of evolution and explore the laws of history from the long river of history, the great tide of the times, and the global winds and clouds, firmly grasp the correct direction amidst chaotic clouds and flying mist, steel their courage and insight in the face of risks and challenges, always maintain the historical initiative in the cause of the Party and the state on the new journey of the New Era, and continuously strengthen their confidence and motivation to strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

在深刻把握历史发展规律中坚定理想信念。了解历史才能看得远，理解历史才能走得远。中国共产党人的理想信念，建立在马克思主义揭示的人类社会发展规律的基础之上。广大党员、干部应认真学习党史、新中国史、改革开放史、社会主义发展史，坚持以史为鉴，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，在乱云飞渡中把牢正确方向，在风险挑战面前砥砺胆识，始终掌握新时代新征程党和国家事业发展的历史主动，不断增强为实现中华民族伟大复兴而奋斗的信心和动力。

In standing firm in our posts and bravely shouldering the heavy responsibilities of the times, we must fortify our ideals and convictions. To fortify ideals and convictions, one must first know them, then believe in them, and then act upon them. The ideals and convictions of Communists are not for talking about, singing about, or even less for decorating the facade. Ideals and convictions cannot be merely shouted as slogans or left停留在口头上, but must be embodied in the concrete work of fulfilling duties and responsibilities, and in the actual actions of taking responsibility and making contributions. Party members and cadres must forge a firm ideal and conviction, which is the soul of Communists, hone the spiritual character of sharing the Party's concerns, fulfilling responsibilities for the country, and dedicating themselves to the people, be brave in taking responsibility and acting, be keen on tackling difficulties and overcoming obstacles, strive to create achievements worthy of the Party, the people, and the times, and demonstrate the powerful strength of ideals and convictions through concrete actions.

在立足岗位勇担时代重任中坚定理想信念。坚定理想信念，必先知之而后信之，信之而后行之。共产党人的理想信念不是拿来说、拿来唱的，更不是用来装点门面的，不能把理想信念只当口号喊、只停留在口头上，而是要体现在履职尽责的具体工作中，体现在担当奉献的实际行动上。党员、干部必须铸牢理想信念这个共产党人的魂，砥砺为党分忧、为国尽责、为民奉献的精神品格，勇于担当作为、锐意攻坚克难，努力创造无愧于党、无愧于人民、无愧于时代的业绩，以实际行动彰显理想信念的强大力量。

II. Forging Loyalty to the Party

二、铸牢对党忠诚

"The greatest virtue under heaven is loyalty." [1]1 A classical Chinese saying from the *Zuo Zhuan* (Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals), emphasizing loyalty as the highest moral virtue. Loyalty to the Party is the foremost political quality of Communists and the first criterion for testing Party spirit. Throughout our Party's journey, it has experienced countless perils and hardships, but no difficulty has crushed us, and no enemy has defeated us, precisely because of the loyalty of millions upon millions of Party members. To strengthen Party spirit, we must place forging loyalty to the Party in a prominent position, use loyalty to thicken the foundation of Party spirit, use Party spirit to temper the character of loyalty, and ensure that Party members and cadres are always of one heart and one mind with the Party, moving in the same direction and on the same path.

“天下至德，莫大于忠。”对党忠诚，是共产党人首要的政治品质，是检验党性的第一标准。我们党一路走来，经历了无数艰险和磨难，但任何困难都没有压垮我们，任何敌人都没能打倒我们，靠的就是千千万万党员的忠诚。增强党性，必须把铸牢对党忠诚摆在突出位置，以忠诚厚植党性根基，以党性锤炼忠诚品格，确保党员干部始终与党同心同德、同向同行。

In deeply comprehending the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments," we must fortify our stance of loyalty to the Party. [2]2 The "Two Establishments" (两个确立) refer to the establishment of Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and the establishment of the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The "Two Establishments" are a major political achievement of the Party in the New Era and a decisive factor in promoting historic achievements and historic changes in the cause of the Party and the state. The most fundamental aspect of loyalty to the Party is loyalty to the Party's core, the people's leader, and the guide for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The broad masses of Party members and cadres must forge loyalty to the Party, must deeply comprehend the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments," continuously enhance political consciousness, consciousness of the overall situation, consciousness of the core, and consciousness of alignment, [3]3 The "Four Consciousnesses" (四个意识) refer to consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in terms of the big picture, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership. effectively transform the political consensus of the "Two Establishments" into concrete actions for the "Two Upholds," [4]4 The "Two Upholds" (两个维护) refer to upholding Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and upholding the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee. continuously improve political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution, and always maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in political stance, political direction, political principles, and political path.

在深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义中坚定对党忠诚立场。“两个确立”是党在新时代取得的重大政治成果，是推动党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革的决定性因素。对党忠诚最根本的是忠诚于党的核心、人民领袖，忠诚于中华民族伟大复兴的领路人。广大党员、干部要铸牢对党忠诚，必须深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，不断增强政治意识、大局意识、核心意识、看齐意识，切实把“两个确立”的政治共识转化为“两个维护”的实际行动，不断提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，始终在政治立场、政治方向、政治原则、政治道路上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致。

In always keeping in mind the "greatest concerns of the state," we must build a firm consciousness of loyalty to the Party. [5]5 "Greatest concerns of the state" (国之大者) is a phrase used by Xi Jinping to refer to the most fundamental and important interests and affairs of the Party and the state that all Party members and cadres must keep in mind. Having a clear understanding of the "greatest concerns of the state" is an important part of Party members and cadres taking a clear stand on politics, a basic requirement for consciously being a politically clear-minded person, and an important manifestation of loyalty to the Party. Looking back on history, the willingness to die "willing to water China with hot blood," the disregard for personal gain in giving up favorable conditions abroad to return and build New China, the sacrifice and dedication of lives on the journey of poverty alleviation... Generations of outstanding Communists have used their actions to answer what the "greatest concerns of the state" are. Forging ahead on the new journey requires the broad masses of Party members and cadres to consciously speak of politics, have a clear understanding of the "greatest concerns of the state," pay attention to what the Party Central Committee cares about and emphasizes, deeply comprehend what the most important interests of the Party and the state are, and what positions most need to be firmly upheld. They must be clear-eyed and bright-minded about the major principles, major stances, and major interests of governing the country, calculate the big picture and the big account more, and calculate the small picture and the small account less, so as to achieve achievements in their own work while adding luster to the overall cause of the Party and the state.

在始终胸怀“国之大者”中筑牢对党忠诚意识。对“国之大者”心中有数，是党员、干部旗帜鲜明讲政治的重要内容，是自觉做政治上的明白人的基本要求，也是对党忠诚的重要体现。回溯历史，“甘将热血沃中华”的视死如归，放弃国外优厚条件回来建设新中国的不计得失，将生命定格在脱贫攻坚征程上的牺牲奉献……一代代优秀共产党人用行动回答了何为“国之大者”。奋进新征程，要求广大党员、干部自觉讲政治，对“国之大者”要心中有数，关注党中央在关心什么、强调什么，深刻领会什么是党和国家最重要的利益、什么是最需要坚定维护的立场，对治国理政的重大原则、重大立场和重大利益做到心明眼亮，多打大算盘、算大账，少打小算盘、算小账，做到既在本职工作上有所建树，更能为党和国家事业大局增光添彩。

In strictly observing discipline and rules, we must forever maintain the true character of loyalty to the Party. Discipline is the "yardstick" for governing and managing the Party, and also the standard and guideline for Party members and cadres to constrain their own behavior. Marx pointed out, "We must absolutely maintain Party discipline, otherwise nothing will be accomplished." [6]6 A quotation from Karl Marx, often cited in the context of the importance of Party discipline. Among the Party's discipline and rules, political discipline and political rules are the most fundamental and most important. Loyalty to the Party requires strictly observing the Party's political discipline and political rules, always remembering the "Five Musts," [7]7 The "Five Musts" (五个必须) are internal Party rules regarding political discipline, requiring, among other things, obedience to the Party's decisions and prohibitions against factionalism. resolutely preventing the "Seven Havens," [8]8 The "Seven Havens" (七个有之) refers to seven types of prohibited political behaviors, such as engaging in conspiracies, forming cliques, and spreading rumors, which undermine Party unity and discipline. and consciously being a politically clear-minded person. Always and everywhere put discipline and rules first, further learn discipline, know discipline, understand discipline, and abide by discipline, engrave compliance with discipline and rules in the heart, and internalize them as norms of words and actions that are used daily without conscious awareness.

在严格遵守纪律规矩中永葆对党忠诚本色。纪律是管党治党的“戒尺”，也是党员、干部约束自身行为的标准和遵循。马克思指出，“必须绝对保持党的纪律，否则将一事无成”。在党的纪律规矩中，政治纪律和政治规矩是最根本、最重要的。对党忠诚，就要严守党的政治纪律和政治规矩，时刻牢记“五个必须”，坚决防止“七个有之”，自觉做政治上的明白人。时时处处把纪律规矩挺在前面，进一步学纪、知纪、明纪、守纪，把遵规守纪刻印在心，内化为日用而不觉的言行准则。

III. Cultivating Deep Feelings for the People

三、厚植为民情怀

The Communist Party of China is a Marxist political party that serves the people wholeheartedly. Party spirit and people's spirit have always been consistent and unified. Essentially, adhering to Party spirit means adhering to people's spirit, and adhering to people's spirit means adhering to Party spirit. Strengthening Party spirit requires cultivating deep feelings for the people.

中国共产党是全心全意为人民服务的马克思主义政党，党性和人民性从来都是一致的、统一的。从本质上说，坚持党性就是坚持人民性，坚持人民性也就是坚持党性，增强党性必须厚植为民情怀。

Adhere to taking the people's hearts as the foundation and root ourselves among the masses. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Whoever holds the people in their hearts, the people will hold them in theirs." Putting people first and governing for the people is the highest standard for testing all our Party's governing activities. The Party's foundation lies in the people; correct understanding originates from practice rooted among the masses. The broad masses of Party members and cadres must hold the people in their hearts, exchange sincerity for sincerity, exchange true feelings for true feelings, take the initiative to go deep into the grassroots frontline such as fields, streets and alleys, and factory workshops, communicate face-to-face and heart-to-heart with the masses, and understand their thoughts, hopes, and needs. With feeling and responsibility, observe the people's conditions and warm their hearts, taking whether the people support, approve, are happy, or agree as the main basis and judgment standard for our thinking about problems and making decisions. At the same time, adapt to the new characteristics and new requirements of mass work under the new situation, actively respond to the concerns of the masses, sincerely accept supervision by the masses, and always maintain the Party's flesh-and-blood ties with the masses.

坚持民心为本扎根群众。习近平总书记指出：“谁把人民放在心上，人民就把谁放在心上。”以人为本、执政为民是检验我们党一切执政活动的最高标准。党的根基在人民，正确的认识源于扎根群众的实践。广大党员、干部必须心中装着人民，以真心换真心，以真情换真情，主动深入田间地头、街头巷尾、工厂车间等基层一线，与群众面对面、心贴心交流，了解他们的所思所想所盼。带着感情、带着责任去体察民情、温暖民心，把人民群众拥护不拥护、赞成不赞成、高兴不高兴、答应不答应作为我们想问题、作决策的主要依据和判断标准。同时，适应新形势下群众工作新特点、新要求，积极回应群众关切，诚心接受群众监督，始终保持党同人民群众的血肉联系。

Adhere to putting the people’s livelihood first and benefiting the masses. “The people’s anxieties are what I must bear in mind; the people’s aspirations are what I must carry out.” [9]9 Quotation from Xi Jinping’s 2022 New Year address. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “Communists must remember that benefiting the people is the greatest political achievement.” [10]10 From Xi Jinping’s speech at the ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC, July 1, 2021. The vast number of Party members and cadres should clearly recognize that the power in their hands and the positions they hold are bestowed by the Party and the people, to be used for the work of the Party and the people, and can only be employed to seek benefits for the people. They must bear in mind the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, always place benefiting the people first, always keep the people’s peaceful life and their safety and well-being at heart, and constantly hold the masses’ difficulties and demands in their minds. They should frequently use measures that are as gentle as a spring breeze and rain, do more work that provides timely help like charcoal in the snow, and do more good deeds that solve problems and relieve difficulties. They should carry out good deeds that benefit and favor the people right into the hearts of the masses, effectively resolve the urgent, difficult, anxious, and expectant problems that the masses care about, such as education, employment, elderly care, transportation, and medical treatment, and use concrete actions of benefiting the people to interpret the Communists’ lofty pursuit of “I will have no self, and I will not fail the people.” [11]11 Xi Jinping’s expression of selfless dedication, first used in his 2019 New Year address.

坚持民生为大造福群众。“民之所忧，我必念之；民之所盼，我必行之。”习近平总书记指出，“共产党人必须牢记，为民造福是最大政绩”。广大党员、干部应清醒地认识到，自己手中的权力、所处的岗位，是党和人民赋予的，是为党和人民做事用的，只能用来为民谋利。必须牢记全心全意为人民服务的根本宗旨，始终把为民造福放在第一位，始终把人民安居乐业、安危冷暖放在心上，时刻把群众的困难和诉求记在心里，多用春风化雨的措施、多做雪中送炭的工作、多办排忧解难的好事，将惠民利民的好事办到群众心坎上，切实解决好群众关心关注的教育、就业、养老、出行、看病等急难愁盼问题，以为民造福的实际行动诠释共产党人“我将无我、不负人民”的崇高追求。

Adhere to valuing the people’s will and relying on the masses. The masses of the people are the foundation of the Communist Party of China’s existence and development, and the source of its strength and wisdom. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes, “Without the people, we would accomplish nothing.” For Communists, deeply cultivating a sentiment for the people tests not only their ability to serve the people and benefit the masses, but also their capability to unite the masses, rally the masses, mobilize the masses, and organize the masses. A great cause cannot be separated from the great, glorious, and heroic Chinese people. The greater the cause, the more necessary it is to unite and rally the masses. The vast number of Party members and cadres should actively and proactively go among the masses, consciously learn from the masses as teachers, and humbly seek advice from the masses. They should listen not only to the masses’ agreeable words but also to their disagreeable words, strive to tap into the wisdom and creativity latent in the masses, be adept at summarizing the fresh experience created by the masses, and learn methods for solving problems from the masses, thereby obtaining “living knowledge,” learning “true skills,” and mastering “solid abilities.”

坚持民意为重依靠群众。人民群众是共产党存在和发展的基础、力量和智慧的源泉。习近平总书记强调：“离开了人民，我们就会一事无成。”对于共产党人来说，厚植为民情怀，既考验为民服务、造福群众的能力，也需要团结群众、凝聚群众、发动群众、组织群众的本领。伟大的事业，离不开伟大、光荣、英雄的中国人民。越是伟大的事业，越要团结和凝聚群众。广大党员、干部应积极主动走到群众中去，自觉拜人民群众为师，虚心请教群众，既要听群众的顺耳话，也要听群众的逆耳言，努力挖掘蕴藏在人民群众中的智慧和创造力，善于总结人民群众创造的新鲜经验，善于从群众中学习解决问题的方法，从中获取“活知识”，学到“真功夫”，掌握“硬本领”。

IV. Purifying Moral Character

四、纯正道德品质

Accumulate good deeds to form virtue; bright virtue alone is fragrant. [12]12 A classical allusion: “Accumulate good deeds to form virtue” is from the *Book of Changes* (《周易》); “Bright virtue alone is fragrant” is from the *Book of Documents* (《尚书》). The Chinese nation is a people who value morality and advocate cultivating virtue, historically emphasizing that “with morality in oneself, one is not misled by external things.” [13]13 From the *Guanzi* (《管子》), an ancient Chinese philosophical text. On the new journey, Party members and cadres must take strengthening moral cultivation as an important compulsory course in life, always tighten the “master switch” of moral cultivation, closely integrate correct moral cognition, conscious moral formation, and active moral practice, persist in esteeming virtue and cultivating oneself, establishing virtue and rectifying the mind, consciously achieve understanding of great virtue, upholding public virtue, and strictly practicing private virtue, continuously elevate their personal moral realm, and hold fast to the spiritual home of Communists.

积善成德，明德惟馨。中华民族是重视道德、崇尚修德的民族，历来强调“道德当身，故不以物惑”。新征程上，党员、干部必须把加强道德修养作为重要的人生必修课，时刻拧紧道德修养这个“总开关”，把正确的道德认知、自觉的道德养成、积极的道德实践紧密结合起来，坚持崇德修身、立德正心，自觉做到明大德、守公德、严私德，不断提升个人道德境界，坚守共产党人的精神家园。

Draw moral nourishment from fine traditional Chinese culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “Many ideas, concepts, and moral norms in fine traditional Chinese culture have timeless value, whether in the past or the present.” Fine traditional Chinese culture values both “cultivating virtue to regulate oneself” and “governing with virtue,” contains rich norms of moral cultivation, and has formed traditional virtues such as ceaseless self-improvement, dedication to work and love of community, upholding justice and promoting goodness, helping the distressed and aiding those in peril, acting bravely for a just cause, and filial piety and love for relatives. These are the excellent genes of the Chinese nation, shaping the moral concepts and ways of thinking of the Chinese people. To purify their moral character, Party members and cadres must deeply study and comprehend the moral ethics and moral essence in fine traditional Chinese culture, draw moral strength from the noble sentiments and gentlemanly personality pursued by ancient sages and wise men, discard vulgarity, stay away from lowliness, and not pander to philistinism, know shame and honor, distinguish right from wrong, and continuously elevate their ideological realm and purify their moral sentiments.

从中华优秀传统文化中汲取道德滋养。习近平总书记指出：“中华优秀传统文化中很多思想理念和道德规范，不论过去还是现在，都有其永不褪色的价值。”中华优秀传统文化既重视“以德修身”，又注重“为政以德”，蕴含着丰富的道德修养规范，形成了自强不息、敬业乐群、扶正扬善、扶危济困、见义勇为、孝老爱亲等传统美德，是中华民族的优秀基因，塑造着中国人的道德观念和思维方式。党员、干部要纯正道德品质，就必须深入学习领会中华优秀传统文化中的道德伦理和道德精髓，从古代先贤圣哲所追求的高尚情操和君子人格中汲取道德力量，去庸俗、远低俗、不媚俗，知廉耻、懂荣辱、辨是非，不断升华思想境界、纯洁道德情操。

Perceive moral demeanor from heroic models and exemplary figures of the era. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, “A nation with hope cannot be without heroes; a country with a future cannot be without pioneers.” Over the past hundred-plus years, to win national independence and people’s liberation and achieve national prosperity and people’s happiness, the Communist Party of China has united and led the people to advance wave upon wave and fight bravely, giving rise to countless heroic models and exemplary figures of the era with noble moral sentiments, writing a great epic that moves heaven and earth and composing heroic songs that are earth-shattering. The awe-inspiring righteousness of countless revolutionary martyrs, the persistent dedication of the “founding fathers of the two bombs,” [14]14 Refers to the scientists who developed China’s atomic bomb and hydrogen bomb in the 1960s, notably Deng Jiaxian and others. the selfless service to the people of county Party secretary Jiao Yulu, [15]15 Jiao Yulu (1922–1964), a county Party secretary in Henan Province, celebrated as a model of selfless service to the people. the loyal steadfastness of old hero Zhang Fuqing [16]16 Zhang Fuqing (1924– ), a war hero from the Chinese Civil War who later lived modestly and was recognized as a national role model. … have erected immortal moral monuments one after another. To purify their moral character, the vast number of Party members and cadres must deeply perceive the lofty demeanor of heroic models and exemplary figures of the era, learn from their firm choices when facing public and private interests, righteousness and profit, right and wrong, good and evil, hardship and pleasure, and elevate their realm and cultivate their sentiments in emulating the worthy.

从英雄模范和时代楷模身上感悟道德风范。习近平总书记指出：“一个有希望的民族不能没有英雄，一个有前途的国家不能没有先锋。”百余年来，为赢得民族独立和人民解放、实现国家富强和人民幸福，中国共产党团结带领人民前赴后继、英勇奋战，涌现出无数具有高尚道德情操的英雄模范和时代楷模，书写了感天动地的伟大史诗，谱写了气吞山河的英雄壮歌。无数革命先烈的凛然大义，“两弹元勋”的执着坚守，县委书记焦裕禄的无私为民，老英雄张富清的忠诚坚守……立起了一座座不朽的道德丰碑。广大党员、干部要纯正道德品质，就必须深刻感悟英雄模范和时代楷模身上的崇高风范，学习他们面对公私、义利、是非、正邪、苦乐时的坚定选择，在见贤思齐中提升境界、涵养情操。

Temper moral cultivation in social practice and inner-Party political life. For Communists to purify their moral character, they need not only the firmness of “knowing” and the steadfastness of “believing,” but must also go to the fiery practice of struggle to be tempered, withstand setbacks, bear pressure, shoulder heavy burdens, and win tough battles in the midst of great storms and waves, interpreting loyalty to the Party, sincere great love for the people, and strict demands on the self through concrete actions and responsible conduct. At the same time, vigorously carry forward the fine traditions of inner-Party political life, make good use of the sharp weapon of criticism and self-criticism, allow Party members and cadres to undergo tempering in a furnace of high temperature and blazing fire, continuously transform their subjective world, strengthen character cultivation, and enhance moral cultivation, truly forging steel through repeated tempering.

在社会实践和党内政治生活中锤炼道德修为。共产党人纯正道德品质，不仅需要“知”的坚定与“信”的执着，还要到火热的斗争实践中去磨炼，在大风大浪中经得起挫折、顶得住压力、扛得了重担、打得赢硬仗，以实际行动和担当作为诠释对党的忠诚，对人民的赤诚大爱、对自我的严格要求。同时，大力发扬党内政治生活优良传统，用好批评和自我批评这个锐利武器，让党员干部在温高火旺的熔炉中接受锤炼，不断改造主观世界、加强品格陶冶、提升道德修为，真正百炼成钢。

V. Maintaining Clean and Honest Conduct

五、保持清正廉洁

Party spirit is the cornerstone of Party members’ and cadres’ establishment in life, career, speech, and virtue. Clean and honest conduct is the political integrity that Communists must possess. Achieving cleanness enables one to be filled with uprightness and open-minded; adhering to honesty allows one to be immune to all poisons and proceed steadily and far. To strengthen Party spirit, maintaining clean and honest conduct must be placed in a prominent position, enabling Party members and cadres to know reverence, maintain vigilance, and hold the bottom line, always ensuring that the ideological defense line is not breached, the political bottom line is not lost, and the legal and disciplinary red line is not crossed, forever preserving the clean and honest political character.

党性是党员、干部立身、立业、立言、立德的基石，清正廉洁是中国共产党人必须具备的政治操守。做到清正，便能正气充盈、胸怀坦荡；坚守廉洁，方能百毒不侵、行稳致远。增强党性，必须把保持清正廉洁摆在突出位置，让党员、干部知敬畏、存戒惧、守底线，始终做到思想防线不破、政治底线不失、法纪红线不踩，永葆清正廉洁的政治本色。

Know reverence. “Reverence” makes one act, knowing what one should do; “fear” makes one refrain from acting, warning one what one should not do. The ancients said, “With fear, one dares not act recklessly and thus virtue is achieved; without fear, one follows one’s desires and thus meets with disaster.” [17]17 A classical saying from the Ming dynasty scholar Lü Kun (吕坤), from his work *Shenyin Yuyu* (《呻吟语》). Without a heart of reverence, one will do anything. From openly violating discipline and regulations by eating and drinking at public expense, to harboring luck and turning the “Four Forms of Decadence” [18]18 The “Four Forms of Decadence” (四风) refers to formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, targets of the CPC’s anti-corruption campaign. into invisible and mutated forms, there is a common feature — a lack of a heart of reverence. Only by knowing reverence can one maintain a clear mind when facing various temptations and not cross the line by even one step. To maintain clean and honest conduct, Party members and cadres must always cherish a heart of reverence, genuinely revere the people, revere the organization, and revere laws and discipline, achieve fair use of power, law-based use of power, use of power for the people, and clean use of power, ensure that the power in their hands is not misused and their own behavior does not overstep boundaries, and forever preserve the Communists’ political character of resisting corruption and never being tainted.

知敬畏。“敬”会让人有所为，知晓自己应该做什么；“畏”又会让人有所不为，警告自己不该做什么。古人讲：“畏则不敢肆而德以成，无畏则从其所欲而及于祸。”没有敬畏之心，就什么事都干得出来。从顶风违纪违规吃喝，到心存侥幸将“四风”隐形变异，其中有一个共性特征——缺少敬畏之心。只有知敬畏，才能在面对各种诱惑时，保持清醒头脑，不越雷池一步。党员、干部要保持清正廉洁，就必须常怀敬畏之心，切实敬畏人民、敬畏组织、敬畏法纪，做到公正用权、依法用权、为民用权、廉洁用权，确保手中权力不用偏，自身行为不越界，永葆共产党人拒腐蚀、永不沾的政治本色。

Maintain vigilance. “Those who are good at fearing will surely have upright conduct, regulated speech, and restrained actions.” [19]19 A classical saying from the Song dynasty scholar Zhu Xi (朱熹), from his commentary on the *Analects*. To maintain clean and honest conduct, the importance of “heteronomy” goes without saying, but what plays a decisive role is “self-discipline.” Maintaining vigilance and strengthening self-discipline are precisely the “internal skills” for Party members and cadres to resist temptation and hold the bottom line, reflecting a high degree of political consciousness and sense of responsibility. Party members and cadres must always maintain vigilance, always keep the string of clean self-discipline taut, cultivate the habit of “examining myself three times daily,” [20]20 A Confucian practice from the *Analects* of Confucius, attributed to his disciple Zengzi, meaning daily self-reflection on loyalty, trustworthiness, and study. strictly demand of themselves politically, in work, and in style, frequently conduct self-examination and comparison, be good at self-analysis, dare to engage in self-criticism, and have the courage to correct shortcomings and deficiencies. Facing various temptations and tests, they must always hold fast to their true character, abide by their duty, frequently brush off “thoughts of dust,” [21]21 A metaphor from Buddhist and Daoist thought for eliminating distracting or impure thoughts. think more about the “harm of greed,” [22]22 A phrase from classical Chinese moral discourse, warning against the harm of greed. and constantly break the “thief in the heart,” [23]23 A term from the Ming dynasty philosopher Wang Yangming, referring to selfish desires that corrupt the mind. persist in being upright in conduct and clean in handling affairs, and ensure wholehearted devotion to public service, full of integrity, and spotless.

存戒惧。“凡善怕者，必身有所正，言有所规，行有所止”。保持清正廉洁，“他律”的重要性自不待言，但起决定性作用的还是“自律”。心存戒惧、加强自律正是党员干部抵御诱惑、坚守底线的“内功”，体现着高度的政治自觉和责任担当。党员、干部必须始终心存戒惧，时刻紧绷廉洁自律这根弦，养成“吾日三省吾身”的习惯，在政治上、工作上、作风上严格要求自己，经常对照检查，善于自我剖析，敢于自我批评，勇于改正缺点和不足。面对各种诱惑和考验，必须始终坚守本色、恪守本分，勤掸“思想尘”、多思“贪欲害”、常破“心中贼”，坚持清清白白做人、干干净净做事，确保一心为公、一身正气、一尘不染。

Guard the bottom line. The key to integrity and self-discipline for Party members and cadres lies in guarding the bottom line. As long as one can guard the bottom line in conducting oneself, handling affairs, exercising power, and making friends, one can guard the political responsibility entrusted by the Party and the people, guard one’s own political lifeline, and guard the correct values in life. It is necessary to firmly establish bottom-line awareness, fortify the ideological line of defense against corruption and degeneration, always maintain a frugal and simple lifestyle, cultivate virtue through thrift, practice economy, purify one’s social circle, life circle, and circle of friends, and cultivate positive and healthy life interests. Always be vigilant against the risk of being “hunted” [24], strictly guard the “bottom line,” be alert to the “red line,” and do not touch the “high-voltage line” [25]; never indulge, never cross the line, never overstep the bounds; at all times one must steady one’s mind, control one’s behavior, and preserve one’s integrity.

守底线。党员、干部廉洁自律的关键在于守住底线。只要能守住做人、处事、用权、交友的底线，就能守住党和人民交给自己的政治责任，守住自己的政治生命线，守住正确的人生价值观。必须牢固树立底线意识，筑牢拒腐防变思想防线，时刻保持艰苦朴素的生活作风，以俭修身、厉行节约，净化社交圈、生活圈、朋友圈，培养积极健康的生活情趣。时刻警惕“围猎”风险，严守“底线”、警觉“红线”、不碰“高压线”，始终不放纵、不越轨、不逾矩，任何时候都要稳得住心神、管得住行为、守得住清白。

(Author: Executive Dean and Professor of the Institute of CPC History and Party Building, Sun Yat-sen University; Researcher of the Guangdong Provincial Research Center for

（作者：中山大学中共党史党建研究院执行院长、教授，广东省习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心研究员）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心