"Act According to the Dialectic": Comrade Deng Xiaoping's Far-Sighted Strategic Thinking

In his important speech at the symposium commemorating the 120th anniversary of Comrade Deng Xiaoping's birth, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that Comrade Deng Xiaoping's lifelong struggle "fully demonstrated a noble character of unwavering faith in the lofty ideal of communism and the conviction of socialism with Chinese characteristics, a great sentiment of deep love for the people, a theoretical quality of always seeking truth from facts, a political courage of continuous innovation, a far-sighted strategic thinking, and a broad-mindedness that is open and selfless." Strategic thinking is the most magnificent revolutionary demeanor of Comrade Deng Xiaoping's life, and it will forever be a mode of thinking that Chinese Communists should establish.

习近平总书记在纪念邓小平同志诞辰120周年座谈会上的重要讲话中指出，邓小平同志一生的奋斗历程，“充分展现了对共产主义远大理想和中国特色社会主义信念无比坚定的崇高品格、对人民无比热爱的伟大情怀、始终坚持实事求是的理论品质、不断开拓创新的政治勇气、高瞻远瞩的战略思维、坦荡无私的博大胸襟”。战略思维，是邓小平同志一生最恢宏的革命气度，也永远是中国共产党人应该树立的思维方式。

Comrade Deng Xiaoping's strategic thinking has a profound Marxist philosophical foundation, namely "act according to the dialectic." In February 1945, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out at a report meeting of the Central Party School: "Comrade Deng Xiaoping said: How should things be done? Act according to the dialectic. I agree with his words." In January 1957, in a speech at a conference of secretaries of provincial, municipal, and autonomous regional Party committees, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: "We must act according to the dialectic. This was said by Comrade Deng Xiaoping. I think the whole Party should study dialectics and advocate acting according to the dialectic." Comrade Deng Xiaoping's "acting according to the dialectic" means that many of his important thoughts and judgments are full of materialist dialectics, reflecting a holistic perspective and strategic vision.

邓小平同志的战略思维，具有深厚的马克思主义哲学基础，那就是“照辩证法办事”。1945年2月，毛泽东同志在中央党校的报告会上指出：“邓小平同志讲：事情怎么样办？照辩证法办事。我赞成他的话。”1957年1月，在省、市、自治区党委书记会议上的讲话中，毛泽东同志指出：“要照辩证法办事。这是邓小平同志讲的。我看，全党都要学习辩证法，提倡照辩证法办事。”邓小平同志“照辩证法办事”，他的很多重要思想和论断充满唯物辩证法，体现了全局视野和战略眼光。

I. "Firmly Grasp" and "Hold Fast Without Letting Go"

一、“紧紧掌握”与“扭住不放”

"Hold fast without letting go" means that in decision-making, one must grasp the principal contradiction and focus on the principal aspect of the contradiction. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the principal contradiction in Chinese society was between the Chinese nation and Japanese imperialism. In January 1943, Comrade Deng Xiaoping, summarizing the work of the struggle against Japan, pointed out: "Whether in base areas, enemy-occupied areas, or guerrilla zones, the starting point of all policies and all work must firmly grasp the principle of expanding the contradiction between China and Japan. This precisely strikes the enemy's vulnerable spot." That is, revolutionary work must be carried out by firmly grasping the principal contradiction. Focusing on this principal contradiction, he further analyzed: "Now in the enemy-occupied areas, great changes favorable to us have begun, the basic manifestation of which is the greatly increased anti-Japanese sentiment among the people and the development of contradictions between the enemy and puppets. We should firmly seize this basic characteristic to develop our work, grasp the essence of the Sino-Japanese contradiction, develop the anti-Japanese national united front, and unite all strata of anti-Japanese people in the struggle against the enemy. Experience has proven that in enemy-occupied areas, we should not expand class contradictions among the Chinese themselves; the basic principle is to unite all Chinese against the enemy. If we can do this, we can carry out work in enemy-occupied areas; otherwise, we cannot gain a foothold there. Experience has also proven that uniting Chinese against the enemy also includes struggle. The content of the struggle is mainly to oppose those individual elements who are unclear about the greater cause, undermine unity, help the enemy, and are selfish; the methods of struggle should also be peaceful and political. Only against those traitors and secret agents who are dead set on serving the enemy and are hated by the people should resolute blows be struck." Requirements such as "firmly grasp" and "firmly seize" are a true and vivid portrayal of Comrade Deng Xiaoping's use of the theory of emphasis to guide the anti-Japanese struggle.

“扭住不放”，就是在决策中必须抓住主要矛盾、重视矛盾的主要方面。抗日战争时期中国社会的主要矛盾，是中华民族同日本帝国主义的矛盾。1943年1月，邓小平同志在总结对日斗争工作时指出：“无论在根据地或敌占区、游击区，一切政策、一切工作的出发点，都必须紧紧掌握住扩大中日矛盾的原则。这正打到敌人的痛处。”这就是说，必须紧紧抓住主要矛盾来开展革命工作。围绕这个主要矛盾，他进一步分析指出：“现在敌占区开始起了有利于我的巨大变化，其基本表现就是人民抗日情绪大大增长，敌伪矛盾发展。我们应好好抓住这个基本特点去发展工作，掌握中日矛盾的实质，发展抗日民族统一战线，团结各阶层一切抗日人民对敌斗争。经验证明：在敌占区不应该去扩大中国人自己的阶级矛盾，基本是团结一切中国人对敌。能如此我们便能开展敌占区工作，反之我们便不能在敌占区立足。经验又证明：团结中国人对敌，也包含有斗争。斗争的内容，主要是反对那些不明大义、破坏团结、帮助敌人、自私自利的个别分子，而斗争方式也应是和平的、政治的。只有对于那种死心事敌、为人民所痛恨的汉奸、特务分子，才采取坚决打击的方式。”“紧紧掌握”、“好好抓住”等要求，是邓小平同志运用重点论指导抗日对敌斗争的真实而生动写照。

In the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, the principal contradiction in Chinese society was between the people's ever-growing material and cultural needs and backward social production. Based on a correct analysis of this principal contradiction, Comrade Deng Xiaoping explicitly required that the focus of the Party's and the state's work must shift to socialist modernization centered on economic construction. He repeatedly emphasized, "Our entire Party and entire people must firmly establish this lofty ambition, hold fast without letting go, be 'stubborn,' and not waver," and "This matter must be held fast without letting go, not a single day can be delayed." It was precisely based on the precise grasp of "backward social production" within the principal social contradiction, relying on the perseverance and tenacity of "holding fast without letting go" of economic construction as the center, that the Communist Party of China led the Chinese people to achieve a historic breakthrough from relatively backward productive forces to becoming the world's second-largest economy, realize a historic leap in people's lives from inadequate food and clothing to an overall moderate prosperity and then to comprehensive moderate prosperity, and propel the great leap of the Chinese nation from standing up to becoming prosperous.

在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，我国社会的主要矛盾是人民日益增长的物质文化需要同落后的社会生产之间的矛盾。在正确分析这一主要矛盾的基础上，邓小平同志明确要求党和国家工作的重点必须转移到以经济建设为中心的社会主义现代化建设上来。他再三强调，“我们全党全民要把这个雄心壮志牢固地树立起来，扭着不放，‘顽固’一点，毫不动摇”，“这件事情一定要死扭住不放，一天也不能耽误”。正是基于对社会主要矛盾中“落后的社会生产”的精准把握，依靠“扭住不放”以经济建设为中心的恒心和韧劲，中国共产党带领中国人民实现了从生产力相对落后的状况到经济总量跃居世界第二的历史性突破，实现了人民生活从温饱不足到总体小康、奔向全面小康的历史性跨越，推进了中华民族从站起来到富起来的伟大飞跃。

II. "Theory of Emphasis" and "Theory of Two Points"

二、“重点论”与“两点论”

The "theory of emphasis" and the "theory of two points" are interconnected and organically unified. While highlighting the key points, one should not forget the two points; while grasping the key points, one should remember to take the overall situation into account. During the revolutionary war years, Comrade Deng Xiaoping proposed grasping the three major tasks of war, production, and education simultaneously: "Everything we do is for the victory of the war; production precisely ensures the victory of the war; and education serves war and production. Combining these three closely creates an invincible force." After the founding of New China, while leading the Southwest Bureau to accomplish heavy tasks such as consolidating political power and restoring the economy, and in response to the serious problem of banditry, Comrade Deng Xiaoping decisively deployed band

“重点论”和“两点论”是相互联系、有机统一的，在突出重点时不应忘记两点，在抓重点时应记着统揽全局。在革命战争年代，邓小平同志提出战争、生产、教育三大任务一起抓，“我们一切为着战争的胜利，生产正所以保障战争的胜利，教育则为战争、生产而服务，把三者密切地结合起来，就是不可战胜的力量。”新中国成立后，在领导西南局做好巩固政权、恢复经济等繁重任务的同时，针对匪患严重的情况，邓小平同志果断作出剿匪部署。要把90万土匪消灭，不是一件容易的事，结果却“打得很漂亮”。毛泽东同志指出，无论是政治，还是军事，论文论武，邓小平都是一把好手。1975年，邓小平同志冲破“四人帮”的重重阻挠，大刀阔斧地开展全面整顿工作。对于这次整顿，邓小平同志后来认为是改革的一次“试验”。这一切举措的灵魂，就是一个“敢”字。他常对人讲，要有一点精神，“要敢字当头，横下一条心”，不怕被抓辫子，不怕犯错误，不怕再次被打倒。这些都体现了邓小平同志既抓重点又抓全面的战略思维。

Entering the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, while emphasizing that material civilization is the foundation and economic construction is the center and focus, and based on a correct understanding of the dialectical relationship between material civilization and cultural-ethical progress, Comrade Deng Xiaoping repeatedly stressed "grasping with both hands, both hands must be firm," and that it was necessary to do a good job of building socialist cultural-ethical progress and democratic legal system construction to achieve comprehensive social progress. As a concrete elaboration of "grasping with both hands" for material civilization and cultural-ethical progress, he summarized and proposed grasping construction with one hand and grasping the legal system with the other, grasping reform and opening up with one hand and grasping punishment of corruption with the other, grasping development with one hand and grasping stability with the other, and so on. "Persisting in grasping with both hands, both hands must be firm" — this is an important conclusion drawn by Comrade Deng Xiaoping from summing up the experience of reform and construction, one with long-term guiding significance. It was precisely by adhering to the unity of the "theory of emphasis" [1]1 "Theory of emphasis" (重点论): A concept in Maoist dialectical materialism referring to the method of identifying and focusing on the principal contradiction or the principal aspect of a contradiction in any given situation. and the "theory of two points" [2]2 "Theory of two points" (两点论): A concept in Maoist dialectical materialism referring to the method of recognizing that every contradiction has two aspects, and that one must consider both sides of any issue., and by achieving "persisting in grasping with both hands, both hands must be firm," that ensured socialism with Chinese characteristics always advanced in the correct direction.

进入改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，在强调物质文明是基础，经济建设是中心、是重点的同时，基于对物质文明和精神文明辩证关系的正确认识，邓小平同志反复强调“两手抓、两手都要硬”，必须抓好社会主义精神文明建设和民主法制建设，实现社会全面进步。作为对物质文明和精神文明“两手抓”的具体展开，他总结提出一手抓建设、一手抓法制，一手抓改革开放、一手抓惩治腐败，一手抓发展、一手抓稳定，等等。“坚持两手抓、两手都要硬”，这是邓小平同志总结改革和建设的经验得出的一个具有长远指导意义的重要结论。正是坚持了“重点论”和“两点论”的统一，做到了“坚持两手抓、两手都要硬”，确保了中国特色社会主义始终沿着正确方向前进。

III. "The Small Bureau Submits to the Overall Situation" [3]3 "The small bureau submits to the overall situation" (小局服从大局): A phrase used by Deng Xiaoping, derived from the organizational principle of democratic centralism, meaning that the interests of a part or locality must be subordinated to the interests of the whole or the central authority.

三、“小局服从大局”

Things are universally connected; the whole is composed of parts, and it plays a commanding and leading role over the parts. This requires that decision-makers must establish a concept of the overall situation, base themselves on the whole, and coordinate the overall situation. Comrade Deng Xiaoping was adept at understanding and handling the dialectical relationship between the overall situation and the partial, making decisions based on the overall situation. When summing up his work in the struggle against the enemy, he pointed out: "Our comrades do not fully understand the political significance that every move we make in the struggle behind enemy lines can affect the whole country, so they often lack a concept of the overall situation. In their words and actions, and in their policy decisions, there are still places that are not prudent, and they still lack a deep understanding of the Central Committee's guidelines." Therefore, he stressed: "Our responsibility is clearly not only to win the War of Resistance, but also to set an example for the whole country, influence the whole country, and strive for post-war unity and national construction by building base areas and persisting in the struggle against the enemy behind enemy lines. All our policies and actions should not only take care of the base areas themselves, but also take into account their impact on the whole country. This concept should be established among cadres, especially leading cadres." In the first stage of the Huaihai Campaign [4]4 Huaihai Campaign: A major military campaign (November 1948 – January 1949) during the Chinese Civil War, in which the People's Liberation Army decisively defeated the Nationalist forces in the region of Xuzhou. Deng Xiaoping served as the secretary of the General Front Committee., the characteristic of Comrade Deng Xiaoping's strategic decisions with the overall situation in mind was particularly prominent. He pointed out: "As long as the main force of the enemy's southern front is annihilated, even if the Central Plains Field Army is wiped out, the People's Liberation Army on all fronts across the country can still achieve victory nationwide; this price is worth paying." This approach of prioritizing the overall situation won the trust and reliance of the Party Central Committee. Comrade Mao Zedong, evaluating Comrade Deng Xiaoping, said, "This person is relatively considerate of the overall situation."

事物是普遍联系的，整体由部分构成，对部分起着统率、主导作用。这就要求决策者必须树立全局观念，立足整体，统筹全局。邓小平同志善于认识和处理全局与局部的辩证关系，立足全局作决策。他在总结对敌斗争工作时指出：“我们同志对于我们在敌后斗争的一举一动都可以影响全国这种政治意义认识不够，所以往往缺乏全局观念，在言论行动上，政策决定上，都还有不慎重的地方，对中央的方针，还缺乏深刻的了解。”因此，他强调：“我们的责任，显然不仅是争取抗战胜利，而且是以建设根据地、坚持敌后对敌斗争去示范全国、影响全国，争取战后团结建国。我们一切政策行动都应不仅照顾到根据地本身，而且要照顾到对全国的影响。这个观念应在干部中特别在领导干部中树立起来。”在淮海战役第一阶段，邓小平同志顾全大局作战略决策的特点表现得尤为突出。他指出：“只要歼灭了南线的敌军主力，中野就是打光了，全国各路解放军还可以取得全国的胜利，这代价是值得的。”这种以大局为重的做法赢得了党中央的信赖和倚重。毛泽东同志评价邓小平同志说，“这个人比较顾全大局”。

In Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s view, the overall situation is also called the “great principle.” He repeatedly stressed, “The great principle and the minor principle must be clearly distinguished,” and “The minor bureau must submit to the overall bureau, the minor principle must submit to the great principle.” He pointed out, “Whether for the present or the future, what I say is not from a small angle but from the overall situation,” and “We must advocate taking the overall situation into account. Some things are feasible from a partial perspective but not from the overall perspective; some things are not feasible from a partial perspective but are feasible from the overall perspective. In the final analysis, we must take the overall situation into account.” Regarding major issues that concern the overall situation and have long-term impact, Comrade Deng Xiaoping always kept the overall situation in mind, discerned the general trend, handled weighty matters with ease, and set the course. When handling the relationship between coastal areas and the interior, Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “Coastal areas should accelerate their opening to the outside world, enabling this vast zone with a population of 200 million to develop more quickly first, thereby driving better development in the interior. This is a matter concerning the overall situation. The interior must take this overall situation into account. Conversely, when development reaches a certain point, the coastal areas will be required to devote more strength to helping the interior develop. This too is an overall situation. At that time, the coastal areas must also submit to this overall situation.” This fully demonstrates Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s outstanding courage and magnanimous spirit as a strategist of his generation.

在邓小平同志看来，大局也叫“大道理”。他多次强调，“大道理与小道理必须弄清楚”，“小局服从大局，小道理服从大道理”。他指出，“不管对现在还是对未来，我讲的东西都不是从小角度讲的，而是从大局讲的”，“要提倡顾全大局。有些事从局部看可行，从大局看不可行；有些事从局部看不可行，从大局看可行。归根到底要顾全大局”。对于事关大局、影响长远的大问题，邓小平同志总能胸怀全局、洞察大势，举重若轻、举旗定向。在处理沿海地区与内地关系时，邓小平同志指出：“沿海地区要加快对外开放，使这个拥有两亿人口的广大地带较快地先发展起来，从而带动内地更好地发展，这是一个事关大局的问题。内地要顾全这个大局。反过来，发展到一定的时候，又要求沿海拿出更多力量来帮助内地发展，这也是个大局。那时沿海也要服从这个大局。”这都充分展现出邓小平同志作为一代战略家的卓越胆识和恢宏气度。

IV. “Opportunities Must Be Seized, Decisions Must Be Made in a Timely Manner”

四、“机会要抓住，决策要及时”

Seizing the moment, sizing up the situation, and preventing going beyond the proper limits are important principles Comrade Deng Xiaoping followed when making strategic decisions. In promoting the process of reform and opening up, Comrade Deng Xiaoping stressed: “We must be adept at seizing opportunities to solve our development problems.” For us, reform is a new thing, and grasping the timing requires groping forward, that is, “crossing the river by feeling the stones.” Comrade Deng Xiaoping, seeking truth from facts, pointed out, “Due to the complexity of urban reform, some mistakes may occur. But this will not affect the overall situation. We take one step and look at the next; if something is inappropriate, we just correct it.” General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Crossing the river by feeling the stones is a reform method rich in Chinese wisdom and also a method that conforms to the Marxist epistemology and theory of practice.” In the process of reform and opening up, we “crossed the river by feeling the stones.” For reforms that must achieve breakthroughs but are not yet fully certain, we adopted the method of pilot exploration and testing the waters, first conducting pilots, respecting practice and creativity, encouraging bold exploration and pioneering, and then promoting them widely once experience was gained and things were clearly understood. That is to say, the development of things always starts from quantitative change. When quantitative change reaches a certain level, we must decisively seize the opportunity to promote the transformation and development of things. Therefore, we must be adept at seizing opportunities and making strategic decisions in a timely manner. Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “Problems that should be solved must be solved more quickly, using the method of cutting the Gordian knot. They cannot be delayed. Hesitation in making decisions will cause trouble.” As reform and opening up gradually entered the deep-water zone, Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “To achieve an appropriate development speed, we cannot just circle around immediate affairs. We must analyze problems with a macro-strategic perspective and put forward concrete measures. Opportunities must be seized, decisions must be made in a timely manner. We must study which areas have better conditions and can open up more widely.”

把握时机，审时度势，防止过犹不及，是邓小平同志作战略决策时遵循的一个重要原则。在推动改革开放过程中，邓小平同志强调：“要善于把握时机来解决我们的发展问题。”而改革对于我们来说是新事物，对于时机的把握，需要摸索前进，也就是“摸着石头过河”。邓小平同志实事求是地指出，“由于城市改革的复杂性，可能会出些差错。但这影响不了大局，我们是走一步看一步，有不妥当的地方，改过来就是了”。习近平总书记指出：“摸着石头过河，是富有中国智慧的改革方法，也是符合马克思主义认识论和实践论的方法。”在改革开放进程中，我们“摸着石头过河”，对必须取得突破但一时还不那么有把握的改革，采取试点探索、投石问路的方法，先行试点，尊重实践、尊重创造，鼓励大胆探索、勇于开拓，取得经验、看得很准了再推开。也就是说，事物的发展总是从量变开始的，当量变达到一定的程度时，要果断地抓住时机，促成事物转化和发展。因此，必须善于抓住时机，及时作出战略决策。邓小平同志指出：“应该解决的问题要加快解决，要用快刀斩乱麻的办法解决，不能拖。当断不断，要误事。”在改革开放逐步进入深水区的时候，邓小平同志指出：“要实现适当的发展速度，不能只在眼前的事务里面打圈子，要用宏观战略的眼光分析问题，拿出具体措施。机会要抓住，决策要及时，要研究一下哪些地方条件更好，可以更广大地开源。”

Seizing opportunities to accelerate development was one of the major issues Comrade Deng Xiaoping repeatedly emphasized in his Southern Talks. He pointed out that, based on our own experience over the years, it is achievable for economic development to leap to a new level every few years. We must “seize the opportunity to develop ourselves; the key is to develop the economy”; “We must seize the opportunity; now is a good opportunity. I am worried about missing the opportunity. If we don’t seize it, the opportunity we see will be lost, and time will pass quickly.” He stressed that development is the absolute principle. “It seems that in our development, we always need to seize the opportunity at a certain stage, accelerate for a few years, promptly address problems when discovered through governance, and then continue to advance.” “Now, with favorable domestic conditions and an advantageous international environment, coupled with the superiority of the socialist system in concentrating resources to accomplish major tasks, it is necessary and achievable to have several stages of relatively fast and efficient development during the long process of modernization. We must have this ambition!” It was precisely because China seized opportunities to develop itself that it was able to catch up with the times in great strides.

抓住时机，加快发展，是邓小平同志在南方谈话中反复强调的重大问题之一。他指出，从我们自己这些年的经验来看，经济发展隔几年上一个台阶，是能够办得到的。要“抓住时机，发展自己，关键是发展经济”；“要抓住机会，现在就是好机会。我就担心丧失机会。不抓呀，看到的机会就丢掉了，时间一晃就过去了”。他强调，发展才是硬道理。“看起来我们的发展，总是要在某一个阶段，抓住时机，加速搞几年，发现问题及时加以治理，尔后继续前进。”“现在，我们国内条件具备，国际环境有利，再加上发挥社会主义制度能够集中力量办大事的优势，在今后的现代化建设长过程中，出现若干个发展速度比较快、效益比较好的阶段，是必要的，也是能够办到的。我们就是要有这个雄心壮志！”正是因为抓住机会发展自己，中国才能大踏步赶上了时代。

V. “Be Bold in Action, but Steady in Steps”

五、“胆子要大，步子要稳”

Strategic decision-making requires both courageous boldness and resolve, as well as a truth-seeking attitude, unifying the exertion of subjective initiative with respect for objective laws. In the process of leading and commanding the struggle against Japan, Comrade Deng Xiaoping clearly stated, “The situation in the struggle between us and the enemy is that the enemy advances, and we advance. The enemy will certainly advance toward us, so we must also advance toward the enemy to destroy or hinder the enemy’s advance and consolidate our positions.” “In this complex struggle of interlocking positions, we are required to carefully understand the enemy, be adept at discovering the enemy’s patterns, and be good at exploiting gaps to penetrate the enemy’s positions in order to seize the initiative.” In complex struggles, this strategic thinking—bold yet cautious, emphasizing the exploration of laws, and acting only after careful planning—embodies the attitude of seeking truth from facts.

战略决策既需要果敢的勇气和魄力，也需要实事求是的态度，要把发挥主观能动性与尊重客观规律统一起来。在领导指挥对日斗争过程中，邓小平同志明确提出，“敌我斗争形势是敌进我进。敌人一定要向我们前进，所以我们也一定要向敌人前进，才能破坏或阻滞敌人的前进，巩固我们的阵地”，“在此犬牙交错的复杂斗争中，要求我们细心地了解敌人，善于发现敌人的规律，善于利用缝隙钻敌人的空子，以争取主动。”在复杂斗争中，这种胆大心细、重视探求规律、谋定而后动的战略思维，体现了实事求是的态度。

Comrade Deng Xiaoping consistently advocated “sorting out the issues, finalizing the plan, and then taking action.” “Sorting out the issues” requires emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts. He pointed out that we must “under the guidance of Marxism, break free from the shackles of habitual forces and subjective prejudices, study new situations, and solve new problems,” taking practice as the sole criterion for testing truth, “making thought conform to reality and the subjective conform to the objective,” which is seeking truth from facts. Comrade Deng Xiaoping often said he was a “truth-seeking faction.” He repeatedly stressed that in this revolution of reform, “Be bold in action, but steady in steps.” “Be bold in action” emphasizes the exertion of subjective initiative: “If something is clearly right, try it boldly and forge ahead boldly.” “Steady in steps” emphasizes respect for objective laws and seeking truth from facts: “The principle to follow in formulating plans should be positive, leaving some leeway, and achievable only through effort,” and promptly correct problems when discovered. The combination of “be bold in action, but steady in steps” embodies the unity of exerting subjective initiative and respecting objective laws, and the unity of daring to try and forge ahead with steady and sure progress.

邓小平同志一贯主张“把问题理一理，把主意拿好，然后再下手”。“把问题理一理”，必须解放思想、实事求是。他指出，要“在马克思主义指导下打破习惯势力和主观偏见的束缚，研究新情况，解决新问题”，以实践作为检验真理的唯一标准，“使思想和实际相符合，使主观和客观相符合”，也就是实事求是。邓小平同志常说自己是“实事求是派”。他多次强调，在改革这场革命中，“胆子要大，步子要稳”。“胆子要大”，重在强调主观能动性的发挥，“看准了的，就大胆地试，大胆地闯”。“步子要稳”，重在强调尊重客观规律、实事求是，“制定计划遵循的原则，应该是积极的、留有余地的、经过努力才能达到的”，发现问题赶快改。“胆子要大，步子要稳”，二者的结合体现了发挥主观能动性和尊重客观规律的统一、敢试敢闯和稳扎稳打的统一。

The successful creation of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the tremendous achievements of reform and opening up are inseparable from Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s far-sighted strategic thinking and from the scientific guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory. “Act according to the laws of dialectics” has distinct characteristics and great significance. On the new journey of the New Era, we must continue to deeply study and apply Deng Xiaoping Theory, fully and accurately understand its scientific connotation and core essence. “Only by combining these important ideas and judgments with their historical background, focusing on holistic and dialectical understanding, grasping both their meaning and rationale, and knowing both what they are and why they are so, can we correctly guide practice. If we attend to one thing and lose sight of another, or overemphasize one aspect while neglecting another, it will easily lead to deviations in practice, or even commit principled and directional errors.” Party members and cadres should earnestly study Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s world vision and strategic thinking of “looking at the world, looking to the future, and also looking at the present, looking at all aspects,” learn his ideological methods and working methods of being adept at grasping the key and lifting the net by the main rope, observe and think about problems from the forefront of the times, plan the Party’s and the people’s cause within the long river of history and the global perspective, see the big from the small and discern the coming storm from a single sign, achieve strategic breakthroughs by solving prominent problems, advance all work while grasping the overall strategic situation, and forge ahead unswervingly in the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era.

中国特色社会主义的成功开创，改革开放事业取得的巨大成就，与邓小平同志高瞻远瞩的战略思维密不可分，与邓小平理论的科学指引密不可分。“照辩证法办事”，特点鲜明，意义重大。新时代新征程，我们必须继续深入学习运用邓小平理论，完整、准确理解它的科学内涵、核心要义，“对这些重要思想和论断，只有结合历史背景，注重整体把握、辩证把握，知其义又明其理，知其然又知其所以然，才能正确用以指导实践。如果顾此失彼、畸轻畸重，就容易导致实践偏差，甚至犯原则性、方向性错误”。党员、干部应认真学习邓小平同志“放眼世界，放眼未来，也放眼当前，放眼一切方面”的世界眼光和战略思维，学习他善于抓住关键、纲举目张的思想方法和工作方法，站在时代前沿观察思考问题，把党和人民事业放到历史长河和全球视野中来谋划，以小见大、见微知著，在解决突出问题中实现战略突破，在把握战略全局中推进各项工作，一往无前推进新时代中国特色社会主义伟大事业。

(Author: Deputy Director and Professor of the Teaching and Research Department of CPC History, Party School of the CPC Central Committee [National Academy of Governance])

（作者：中央党校〔国家行政学院〕中共党史教研部副主任、教授）

Online Editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心