Mastering the Work Method of “Knowing What to Do and What Not to Do”

To promote sustained and healthy economic and social development, we need not only correct thinking and policies but also correct work strategies and methods. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized the methodology of “knowing what to do and what not to do” on multiple occasions, covering areas such as industrial development, scientific and technological innovation, and the strategy for the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Accurately understanding and grasping the philosophical wisdom contained therein has important guiding significance for promoting high-quality development.

推动经济社会持续健康发展，不仅要有正确思想和政策，而且要有正确工作策略和方法。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记在多个场合都强调了“有所为有所不为”的方法论，涵盖产业发展、科技创新、长江经济带发展战略等多个方面。准确理解和把握其中蕴含的哲学智慧，对推动高质量发展具有重要指导意义。

“Knowing what to do” and “knowing what not to do” are a pair of methodological concepts that are both opposite and complementary, full of the spirit of dialectics. The expression “knowing what to do and what not to do” originates from *Mencius*: “The gentleman knows what to do and what not to do; he knows what can be done and does it, and knows what cannot be done and refrains from it. This is the way of the gentleman’s action and inaction.” [1]1 A classical allusion to the Confucian text *Mencius*, which discusses the moral discernment of the junzi (exemplary person). It means that the gentleman has a clear standard of right and wrong, good and evil in his heart, clearly understands what should be done and does it, and clearly understands what should not be done and resolutely refrains from it. This is the principle of the gentleman’s conduct. “Knowing what to do and what not to do” contains a scientific work methodology. On the one hand, it emphasizes seizing opportunities, daring to practice and explore, giving full play to subjective initiative, actively taking responsibility and acting, and being good at carrying out work creatively; on the other hand, it emphasizes proceeding from reality in everything, seeking truth from facts, adapting measures to local conditions, making choices in work, and giving up or temporarily not doing certain things. Taken together, it means that work requires assessing the situation, deciding what to take and what to leave, and choosing important things to do, thereby reflecting the principles and bottom lines of work.

“有所为”“有所不为”是一对相反相成、充满辩证法精神的方法论概念。“有所为有所不为”的表述源自《孟子》，“君子有所为有所不为，知其可为而为之，知其不可为而不为，是谓君子之为与不为之道也”。意思是君子心中有明晰的是非善恶标准，清楚何事应当做就去做，明白何事不应做就坚决不做，这就是君子行事的准则。“有所为有所不为”蕴含着科学的工作方法论。一方面强调抓住机遇、勇于实践探索，发挥主观能动性、积极担当作为，善于创造性地开展工作；另一方面强调一切从实际出发，实事求是、因地制宜地发挥作用，工作中有所舍弃，不做或者暂时不做某些事情。综合起来看，就是工作要审时度势，决定取舍，选择重要的事情去做，体现出工作的原则和底线。

“Knowing what to do” requires us to carry forward the historical initiative spirit, grasp the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction, and enhance the consciousness and initiative to resolutely implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee. Dialectical materialism emphasizes that in the process of the development of things, there are many contradictions, and the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction often determine the course of development of things. Grasping the principal contradiction to drive the overall work is not only an inherent requirement of dialectical materialism but also a work methodology that our Party has consistently advocated and adhered to. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, in the face of complex international and domestic situations, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and the new expectations of the people, we must conform to the historical trend, actively respond to changes and proactively seek change, and continue to advance the work of grasping reform and promoting development, so as to always maintain strategic initiative. In the work of promoting comprehensive and deepening reform, we focus on the prominent contradictions and problems that restrict high-quality development, insist on placing the resolution of major institutional and mechanism issues in a prominent position, tackle difficulties, break down barriers, and continuously push reform forward in breadth and depth. In the work of promoting industrial development, we firmly grasp our own strategic positioning in the overall national development situation and combine it with the region’s resource endowments, industrial foundation, and scientific research conditions to find a high-quality development path that suits the region’s actual conditions. On the new journey of the New Era, we must be good at using the method of contradiction analysis, closely follow the center, distinguish the primary from the secondary, grasp the key points, and make precise efforts, firmly grasping the correct direction of “knowing what to do.”

“有所为”要求我们发扬历史主动精神，抓住主要矛盾和矛盾的主要方面，增强坚决贯彻落实党中央决策部署的自觉性和主动性。唯物辩证法强调，在事物的发展过程中存在许多矛盾，主要矛盾和矛盾的主要方面，往往决定着事物发展进程。抓住主要矛盾带动全局工作，既是唯物辩证法的内在要求，也是我们党一贯倡导和坚持的工作方法论。党的十八大以来，面对纷繁复杂的国际国内形势，面对新一轮科技革命和产业变革，面对人民群众新期待，我们必须顺应历史潮流，积极应变、主动求变，继续把抓改革、促发展推向前进，才能时刻掌握战略主动。在推进全面深化改革的工作中，聚焦制约高质量发展的突出矛盾和问题，坚持把解决重大体制机制问题放在突出位置，攻坚克难、破障闯关，不断推进改革向广度和深度进军。在推进产业发展的工作中，牢牢把握自身在国家发展大局中的战略定位，并将其与本地区的资源禀赋、产业基础、科研条件等结合起来，找到符合本地区实际的高质量发展路径。在新时代新征程上，我们要善于运用矛盾分析法，紧扣中心、分清主次、抓住重点、精准发力，牢牢把握“有所为”的正确方向。

“Knowing what not to do” is by no means inaction; rather, it requires taking a firm stand, holding the bottom line, insisting on proceeding from reality in everything, adapting measures to local conditions, and determining the development approach based on reality. The work methodology of “knowing what not to do” is also a fine tradition of our Party. As early as the early days of the founding of New China, in the face of a complex domestic and international environment, Mao Zedong emphasized: “Do not attack on all fronts. Attacking on all fronts will cause tension throughout the country, which is very bad. We must never make too many enemies; we must make concessions and ease tensions in one aspect, and concentrate our forces to attack in another aspect.” [2]2 A historical reference to Mao Zedong’s speech “Don’t Attack on All Fronts” at the Third Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the CPC in June 1950, advocating strategic focus. Entering the New Era, the industrial levels and development conditions of different regions vary, and high-quality development will inevitably take different forms. The eastern region has a good economic foundation and a high level of scientific research, and has the conditions to carry out original innovation, integrated innovation, and open innovation, and to develop high-tech manufacturing; the western region has a relatively weak development foundation but unique natural resource endowments, making it suitable for building specialty advantageous industries. If one possesses “unique skills” but does not hone or improve them, and instead insists on “forcing a duck onto a perch” [3]3 A Chinese idiom meaning to force someone to do something they are not suited for. in things that should not or cannot be done, and unilaterally invests in a “sprinkling pepper” [4]4 A Chinese idiom describing a scattered, unfocused approach to resource allocation. manner, the result will only be counterproductive. The root cause of the deviation in the outlook on political performance of some Party cadres and officials is that they “try their best to do” what should be “left undone,” engaging in superficial image projects and wasteful performance projects that harm the people. Image projects and performance projects replace “long-term and solid work” with “quick, short-term gains,” and are essentially a matter of seeking quick success and instant benefits and coveting false fame under the control of a mistaken outlook on political performance. They bring about a huge waste of resources and development opportunities, affect the long-term and healthy development of a region and field, and seriously damage the interests of the people, fundamentally deviating from the starting point and goal of promoting reform and development. In this sense, only by not being misled by utopian thinking, not being confused by empty talk, and insisting on “knowing what not to do” can we achieve great success and ensure that what we do will be accomplished.

“有所不为”绝不是不作为，而是要站稳立场、坚守底线，坚持一切从实际出发，因地制宜、实事求是确定发展思路。“有所不为”的工作方法论也是我们党的优良传统。早在新中国成立初期，面对复杂的国内国际环境，毛泽东强调：“不要四面出击。四面出击，全国紧张，很不好。我们绝不可树敌太多，必须在一个方面有所让步，有所缓和，集中力量向另一方面进攻。”进入新时代，各地产业水平、发展条件各不相同，高质量发展必然呈现不同样式。东部地区经济基础好、科研水平高，有条件进行原始创新、集成创新、开放创新，发展高技术制造业；西部地区发展基础相对薄弱，但自然资源禀赋得天独厚，适合打造特色优势产业。若是身怀“独门绝技”却不锤炼、不提高，偏要在不该为、不能为的事上“赶鸭子上架”，一厢情愿“撒胡椒面”式地投入，最终只会适得其反。一些党员干部的政绩观之所以会出现偏差，其症结就是本应“有所不为”的“尽力为”，搞徒有其表的形象工程、劳民伤财的政绩工程。形象工程、政绩工程都是以“短平快”代替“长远实”，本质上是错误政绩观支配下的急功近利和贪图虚名，带来的是极大的资源和发展机遇浪费，影响一个地区和领域的长远健康发展，也严重损害人民群众利益，从根本上背离了推进改革发展的出发点和落脚点。从这个意义上说，只有不为空想所误、不为虚声所惑，坚持“有所不为”，才能大有所为，确保所为必成。

It can be seen that grasping “knowing what to do” and “knowing what not to do” hinges on what standpoint and what perspective one takes to view the problem. Only by standing on the standpoint of the Party and the people, and considering one’s own development positioning from an overall perspective, rather than caring only about personal fame and gain and staring at the “one acre and three-tenths of an acre under one’s feet,” [5]5 A Chinese idiom referring to one’s narrow, self-interested domain. can we find the correct direction of development.

可见，把握“有所为”与“有所不为”，关键是站在什么立场、什么角度看问题。只有站在党和人民的立场上、站在全局的角度考虑自身发展定位，而非只顾个人名利得失、盯着脚下的“一亩三分地”，才能找准发展方向。

Of course, the times and circumstances are not static, and “knowing what to do” and “knowing what not to do” can also transform into each other. This requires us to assess the situation with a developmental perspective, seize all favorable opportunities, and use all favorable conditions to proactively respond to changes, so as to better grasp the timing, degree, and effectiveness of “knowing what to do” and “knowing what not to do,” and always stand firm and seize the initiative. Between “doing” and “not doing,” there is wisdom, reveals one’s pattern, and shows responsibility. “Knowing what to do” and “knowing what not to do” fundamentally address the philosophical proposition of the correspondence between the subjective and the objective. Behind them lie strategic thinking, dialectical thinking, systematic thinking, and process thinking, which are in line with the general work principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability and the spiritual requirement of being cautious and steady in advancing. We must grasp the work method of “knowing what to do and what not to do,” deeply understand and follow the laws of economic and social development, dare to act and be good at acting when it is time to “know what to do,” and maintain strategic resolve when it is time to “know what not to do.”

当然，时与势不是一成不变的，“有所为”与“有所不为”也会互相转化。这就要求我们以发展的眼光审时度势，抓住一切有利时机，利用一切有利条件主动应变，才能更好把握“有所为”与“有所不为”的时度效，始终站稳脚跟、抢占先机。“为与不为”之间，有智慧、显格局、见担当。“有所为”与“有所不为”根本是在解决主观与客观相符合的哲学命题，背后蕴含的是战略思维、辩证思维、系统思维和过程思维，符合稳中求进的工作总基调和慎重稳进的精神要求。我们要把握好“有所为有所不为”的工作方法，深刻认识和遵循经济社会发展规律，在该“有所为”时敢为善为，在该“有所不为”时保持定力。

Online Editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧