Grasping the Dialectics of “Acting” and “Not Acting”

At the opening ceremony of the special seminar for provincial- and ministerial-level leading cadres on studying and implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: “Ensure that what must be done is done, that what can be done is done with effort, and that what must not be done is never done.” This important exposition profoundly elucidates the core essence and behavioral boundaries of Party members and cadres in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities. It is a vivid application of the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method in the pursuit of undertakings, providing powerful ideological guidance and action principles for Party members and cadres to strictly observe discipline and rules and to boldly assume responsibility and take action.

习近平总书记在省部级主要领导干部学习贯彻党的二十届四中全会精神专题研讨班开班式上强调：“做到该为的必须为、能为的努力为、不该为的决不为。”这一重要论述深刻阐明了党员干部履职尽责的核心要义与行为边界，是马克思主义立场观点方法在干事创业中的生动运用，为党员干部严守纪律规矩、勇于担当作为提供了有力的思想指引和行动遵循。

“What must be done must be done” embodies the political responsibility of fulfilling one’s duties and bravely taking charge. The so-called “what must be done” refers to the basic tasks that concern the overall situation of the Party’s and the state’s undertakings and the fundamental interests of the people, tasks that must be fulfilled within the scope of statutory duties. An important criterion for evaluating a Party member or cadre is whether their sense of responsibility is sufficient and whether their spirit of taking responsibility is adequate. Promoting high-quality development, securing the bottom line of people’s livelihoods, and strengthening ecological civilization construction are all “major matters of the state” [1]1 “Major matters of the state” (国之大者) is a term used by Xi Jinping to refer to the most fundamental and overarching issues concerning the Party and the country’s long-term development and the people’s fundamental interests. that must be firmly grasped and pursued with full effort at present. We must fulfill the duties and missions entrusted to us by the Party and the people with a sense of responsibility that is “always on our minds” [2]2 “Always on our minds” (时时放心不下) is a phrase Xi Jinping has used to describe the sense of responsibility cadres should. Any hesitation or perfunctory attitude toward “what must be done” is irresponsible toward the cause of the Party and the people.

“该为的必须为”，体现的是恪尽职守、勇于负责的政治担当。所谓“该为的”，指的是那些关乎党和国家事业发展全局和人民群众根本利益、法定职责范围内必须履行的基本任务。评价一名党员干部，很重要的一条就是看责任感够不够、担当精神足不足。推动高质量发展、兜牢民生底线、加强生态文明建设等，都是当前必须紧紧抓住、全力以赴的“国之大者”。我们一定要以“时时放心不下”的责任感履行好党和人民赋予的职责使命。任何在“该为的”事上的畏缩不前或敷衍塞责，都是对党和人民事业的不负责任。

“What can be done should be done with effort” manifests the striving spirit of forging ahead with determination and pursuing excellence. This is a higher requirement for work standards and effectiveness, based on the fulfillment of basic duties. The so-called “what can be done” refers to areas of work and tasks where, within the framework of objective conditions and policies and regulations, structures can be optimized and potential can be enhanced. For example, in optimizing the business environment, overcoming “bottleneck” technological challenges [3], and improving the level of digital governance, there is broad space for “what can be done.” Party members and cadres should not be satisfied with merely “getting by” or “being just about adequate.” Instead, they should uphold an enterprising spirit of “jumping up to pick the peach” [4], pursuing “better” and “optimal” outcomes within the scope of “what can be done,” broadening development space, enhancing work efficiency, and making every effort to seize opportunities and drive innovation and breakthroughs.

“能为的努力为”，彰显的是锐意进取、追求卓越的奋斗精神。这是在履行基本职责基础上，对工作标准、工作成效提出的更高要求。所谓“能为的”，指的是在客观条件允许、政策法规框架内，能够优化结构、提升潜力的工作领域和任务。比如，在优化营商环境、攻克“卡脖子”技术难题、提升数字治理水平等方面，都存在着广阔的“能为的”空间。党员干部干工作不能满足于“过得去”“差不多”，而应秉持“跳起来摘桃子”的进取心，在“能为的”范围追求“更好”“最优”，拓宽发展空间、提升工作效能，全力抢抓机遇、推动创新突破。

“What must not be done must never be done” delineates the boundary of power characterized by restraint and clean governance. The so-called “what must not be done” refers both to “reckless actions” that violate the laws of development, exceed the stage of development, and harm the interests of the people—such as blindly taking on debt to build “image projects” or “vanity projects” [5], or sacrificing the environment for economic growth—and to acts that violate Party discipline and state law, abuse power, and use power for personal gain. Power is a double-edged sword; used well, it can serve the public and the people; indulged, it harms both oneself and others. Party members and cadres must respect the laws of nature, stand in awe of the people, and place the word “public” (公) foremost in their conduct and work. Starting from the word “public” enables one to calibrate their outlook on political performance and power, truly using the power in their hands to do good and practical things for the people.

“不该为的决不为”，划定的是行有所止、清正廉洁的权力边界。所谓“不该为的”，既指那些违背发展规律、超越发展阶段、损害群众利益的“乱作为”，比如，盲目举债搞“形象工程”“政绩工程”，以牺牲环境为代价换取经济增长等；也指那些违反党纪国法、滥用职权、以权谋私的行为。权力是一把双刃剑，用好可为公为民，纵之则害己害人。党员干部必须尊重规律、敬畏人民，做人做事把“公”字挺在前面。从“公”字出发，方能校准政绩观、权力观，把手中的权力真正用在为民办好事、办实事上。

“Acting” and “not acting” form an organic whole. “What must be done” ensures that the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee are implemented without discount; “what can be done with effort” transforms developmental possibilities into actual advantages; “what must not be done” holds the bottom line of fulfilling duties and responsibilities. The three embody a high degree of unity among principledness, initiative, and discipline. “Not acting” is by no means “lying flat” [6]; rather, it is to better “act.” Prudently “not acting” is for more scientific and sustainable “acting.” We must resolutely oppose “acting recklessly” under the banner of “active action,” as such behavior not only wastes valuable human, material, and financial resources but also harms the political ecosystem and developmental environment.

“为”与“不为”是有机整体。“必须为”，确保党中央决策部署不折不扣落到实处；“努力为”，把发展的可能性转化为现实的优势；“决不为”，守住履职尽责的底线要求。三者体现了原则性、能动性与纪律性的高度统一。“不为”决不是“躺平”，而是为了更好地“为”，审慎地“不为”是为了更科学、更持续地“为”。要坚决反对那种打着“积极作为”旗号的“胡作非为”，这种行为不仅浪费宝贵人力物力财力，还会危害政治生态和发展环境。

How can we better grasp “acting” and “not acting”? The key lies in “precisely grasping the policy boundaries and yardsticks.” On the one hand, we must comprehensively, profoundly, and accurately understand and grasp the strategic intentions, decisions, and deployments of the Party Central Committee, always paying attention to what the Party Central Committee is concerned about and emphasizing, consciously positioning ourselves within the overall situation and acting under the overall framework, ensuring that the direction of “acting” is not deviated and the stance of “not acting” is firm. On the other hand, we must strengthen investigation and research, keep our feet on the ground, thoroughly understand the actual situation and the expectations of the people, so that all decisions and measures conform to objective laws and meet the people’s expectations, avoiding subjective assumptions and blind decision-making. Grasping “acting” and “not acting” tests not only political wisdom but also professional knowledge and execution ability. We must strengthen the study of knowledge in fields such as economics, politics, law, science and technology, and culture, improve the ability to use professional thinking and methods to analyze and solve problems, so that “acting” is effective and powerful, and “not acting” is reasonable and well-founded.

如何更好把握“为”与“不为”？关键在于“精准把握政策界限和尺度”。一方面，要全面深刻准确领会和把握党中央的战略意图和决策部署，时刻关注党中央在关心什么、强调什么，自觉在全局中定位、在大局下行动，确保“为”的方向不偏、“不为”的立场坚定。另一方面，要加强调查研究，把脚踩在大地上，摸清摸透实际情况和群众期盼，使各项决策和举措符合客观规律、符合人民期待，避免主观臆断、盲目决策。把握好“为”与“不为”，既考验政治智慧，也考验专业认知和执行能力。要加强对经济、政治、法律、科技、文化等领域知识的学习，提高运用专业思维、专业方法分析解决问题的能力，使“为”有力有效、“不为”有理有据。

True achievement is based on positive action grounded in scientific decision-making and compliance with rules and discipline. We must organically unify the firmness of “what must be done,” the initiative of “what can be done with effort,” and the self-consciousness of “what must not be done” throughout the entire process of fulfilling duties and responsibilities, maintain strategic resolve in complex situations, take the initiative in the face of risks and challenges, and create solid performance in serving the people.

真正的有为，是建立在科学决策、遵规守纪基础上的积极作为。要把“必须为”的坚定性、“努力为”的主动性、“决不为”的自觉性有机统一于履职尽责的全过程，在复杂局面中保持战略定力，在风险挑战前掌握工作主动，在服务人民中创造过硬实绩。