“Those Who Do Not Shun Difficulties Advance”

“Those who do not seek easy goals succeed; those who do not shun difficulties advance.” General Secretary Xi Jinping once quoted this ancient saying to encourage Party members and officials to “firmly establish a conviction of victory and advance in the face of difficulties” and to “be adept at fostering new opportunities amid crises and opening up new horizons amid changes.” [1]1 This is a classical Chinese saying from the *Book of the Later Han* (《后汉书》), often cited to encourage perseverance in the face of adversity. At present, China’s development is in a period where strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, and where uncertain and unpredictable factors are increasing. To establish and practice a correct outlook on political performance and to create achievements that can withstand the test of practice, the people, and history, it is especially necessary for Party members and officials to preserve the spirit of “those who do not shun difficulties advance,” to step forward with responsibility, meet difficulties head-on, and combat risks, meet challenges, and overcome obstacles.

“志不求易者成，事不避难者进。”习近平总书记曾引用这句古语，激励党员干部“树立必胜信念、知难而进”“善于在危机中育新机、于变局中开新局”。当前，我国发展处于战略机遇和风险挑战并存、不确定难预料因素增多的时期，树立和践行正确政绩观，创造经得起实践、人民、历史检验的实绩，尤其需要党员干部葆有“事不避难者进”的精气神，挺膺担当、迎难而上，战风险、迎挑战、克难关。

“Those who do not shun difficulties advance” contains a dialectical relationship between “not shunning difficulties” and “advancing.” “Not shunning difficulties” is the attitude and action; “advancing” is the goal and result. The two complement each other and form a dialectical unity. On the one hand, “not shunning difficulties” is the prerequisite and foundation for “advancing.” Only by not fearing difficulties in thought and not avoiding difficulties in action can one take the steps forward. Conversely, if one hesitates and is timid in the face of difficulties, neither daring to think nor to act, work can only mark time in place. On the other hand, the result of “advancing” reinforces the fighting spirit and courage of “not shunning difficulties.” Every instance of development and progress achieved by rolling up one’s sleeves and acting boldly, by taking big strides and daring to do, is a process of accumulating experience and enhancing confidence. Thus, with daily renewal and daily progress, a virtuous cycle forms: the more one dares to take responsibility, the stronger one’s ability becomes; the stronger one’s ability, the more one can take responsibility. Our Party, throughout its journey, has undertaken undertakings and created political achievements, rising up amid hardships, advancing amid reform and opening up, and striving amid the tide of the New Era. [2]2 “New Era” (新时代) refers to the period beginning with the 19th National Congress of the CPC in 2017, characterized by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Generation after generation of Communists have not shunned difficulties, have not evaded responsibility, and have dared to take responsibility and engage in heroic struggle.

“事不避难者进”，内含“不避难”与“进”之间的辩证关系。“不避难”是态度和行动，“进”是目标和结果，二者相辅相成、辩证统一。一方面，“不避难”是“进”的前提和基础。唯有思想上不畏惧困难、行动上不回避困难，才能迈出前进的脚步。相反，如果面对困难瞻前顾后、畏首畏尾，这也不敢想、那也不敢干，工作就只能原地打转。另一方面，“进”的结果会强化“不避难”的斗志和勇气。每一次甩开膀子放手干、迈开步子大胆做所取得的发展进步，都是积累经验、增强底气信心的过程。如此日新日进，就会形成越敢担当能力越强、能力越强越能担当的良性循环。我们党一路走来，干事业、创政绩，在筚路蓝缕中奋起，在改革开放中奋进，在新时代大潮中奋楫，一代又一代共产党人事不避难、义不逃责，敢于担当、英勇斗争。

Struggling against difficulties is both a contest of material forces and a confrontation of spirit. “Not shunning difficulties” reflects a firm ideal and conviction and a correct outlook on political performance. With firm ideals and convictions, one can find a fulcrum for establishing a correct outlook on political performance, and one’s heart will possess the determination and resolve to penetrate the fog and overcome difficulties. In reality, some Party members and officials take a detour when encountering difficulties. On the surface, this appears as a lack of daring to take responsibility, but the root lies in prolonged peace and ease leading to spiritual slackness, resulting in the “rickets disease” of lacking ideals and convictions and a deviation in their outlook on political performance. [3]3 “Rickets disease” (软骨病) is a metaphor used in CPC discourse to describe a lack of ideological conviction, often linked to a failure to uphold Party spirit. For Party members and officials, if they calculate less about personal gains and losses, they will have more drive and initiative to bear heavy burdens and overcome difficulties. Only by fortifying the foundation of faith, replenishing the calcium of spirit, and steadying the helm of thought, and by keeping in mind the “greatest concerns of the nation” and the “concerns of the people,” can one avoid being overly eager for fame and fortune, free oneself from the anxiety of gains and losses of the “small self,” and consciously produce political achievements for the people and through solid work. [4]4 “Greatest concerns of the nation” (国之大者) is a term used by Xi

同困难作斗争，既是物质的角力，也是精神的对垒。“事不避难”，映照出坚定的理想信念和正确的政绩观。理想信念坚定，树牢正确政绩观就寻得着支点，内心就有穿越迷雾、战胜困难的决心和定力。现实中，有的党员干部遇到困难绕道走，表面看是不敢担当，根子则在于承平日久、精神懈怠，患上了理想信念缺失的“软骨病”，政绩观存在偏差。对于党员干部而言，少一点个人得失的算计，就多一份知重负重、攻坚克难的干劲闯劲。只有筑牢信仰之基、补足精神之钙、把稳思想之舵，心怀“国之大者”“民之关切”，才能不汲汲于功名富贵，从“小我”的得失焦虑中解脱出来，自觉为人民出政绩、以实干出政绩。

One’s breadth of mind is seen in favorable and adverse circumstances; one’s sense of responsibility is shown in major events and difficult tasks. “Not shunning difficulties” manifests the political character of daring to take responsibility and act. Since the New Era, in major battles and great tests such as poverty alleviation, scientific and technological innovation, emergency rescue and disaster relief, and pollution prevention and control, millions of Party members and officials have charged forward, made contributions, and used practical actions to interpret the contemporary value of “not shunning difficulties.”

顺境逆境看胸襟，大事难事显担当。“事不避难”彰显的是勇于担当作为的政治品格。新时代以来，在脱贫攻坚、科技创新、抢险救灾、污染防治等一场场大战大考中，千千万万党员干部冲锋在前、建功立业，用实际行动诠释着“事不避难”的时代价值。

A tender bamboo cannot be made into a carrying pole; soft shoulders cannot bear heavy burdens. Only by establishing and practicing a correct outlook on political performance, with the spiritual realm of “success need not be in my tenure” and the historical responsibility of “success must surely include my contribution,” and by doing both visible work that benefits people’s livelihoods and increases well-being and invisible work that lays foundations and benefits the long term, advancing despite risks and meeting difficulties head-on, can contradictions and difficulties be readily resolved. [5] Emphasizing “not shunning difficulties” does not mean acting with reckless courage, charging blindly, or engaging in foolhardy ventures. Rather, it means, in the process of facing contradictions and meeting challenges, thoroughly understanding the actual situation, grasping the laws, implementing scientific measures, and cultivating the extraordinary courage and solid skills needed to solve problems and turn danger into safety.

嫩竹做不了扁担，软肩挑不起重担。只有树立和践行正确政绩观，以“功成不必在我”的精神境界和“功成必定有我”的历史担当，既做惠民生、增福祉的显功，也做打基础、利长远的潜功，顶着风险进、迎着困难上，矛盾和困难才会迎刃而解。强调“事不避难”，并非逞匹夫之勇、鲁莽硬闯、盲目蛮干，而是要在直面矛盾、迎接挑战中摸透实情、把握规律、科学施策，练就解题破局、化险为夷的过人胆识和过硬本领。

Faced with the complex and volatile international situation and the arduous and heavy tasks of domestic reform, development, and maintaining stability, if Party members and officials lack ability, panic when encountering contradictions, and tremble at the sight of struggle, they will not only fail to accomplish things but will also spoil things and cause harm. Only by repeatedly experiencing “wind and waves,” holding many “hot potatoes,” and being like “ants on a hot pan” several times, and by tempering courage, honing will, and growing ability in struggle, can one dare and be adept at attacking difficulties, wading through dangerous shoals, and breaking down barriers. [6] In the face of major challenges, major risks, major obstacles, and major contradictions, one must dare to take on tasks, be capable of doing things, and be able to accomplish them, striving vigorously and advancing courageously, and writing a vivid answer sheet worthy of the times and the people with solid work and real achievements.

面对错综复杂的国际形势和艰巨繁重的国内改革发展稳定任务，党员干部如果能力不足，遇到矛盾惊慌失措，遇见斗争直打摆子，非但成不了事还会误事坏事。只有多经“风吹浪打”，多捧“烫手山芋”，多当几回“热锅上的蚂蚁”，在斗争中练胆魄、磨意志、长才干，才能敢于善于攻难关、涉险滩、破藩篱，在重大挑战、重大风险、重大阻力、重大矛盾面前敢扛事、会干事、能成事，踔厉奋发、勇毅前行，以实干实绩书写无愧于时代和人民的生动答卷。