Deng Xiaoping: A Paragon of Seeking Truth from Facts

Deng Xiaoping, as the core of the Party’s second-generation central collective leadership, made two historic contributions of far-reaching significance in the great cause of leading contemporary China’s development and progress: first, he led the summing up of the Party’s historical experience since the founding of New China, correctly appraising Mao Zedong’s historical status and the scientific system of Mao Zedong Thought; second, he led the creation and development of Deng Xiaoping Theory, successfully opening up the new path of building socialism with Chinese characteristics through reform and opening up, enabling China to catch up with the times in big strides and ushering in the bright prospects of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Running through these two historic contributions as the ideological essence is seeking truth from facts. General Secretary Xi Jinping has said that Deng Xiaoping’s life of struggle fully demonstrated his “theoretical quality of consistently adhering to seeking truth from facts.” On the 120th anniversary of Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s birth, reviewing his scientific attitude of seeking truth from facts, his creative spirit, and his extraordinary courage is of great practical significance for us to uphold the ideological line of seeking truth from facts on the new journey of the New Era, comprehensively build a modern socialist country, and achieve the second centenary goal.

邓小平作为我们党的第二代中央领导集体的核心，在引领当代中国发展进步的伟大事业中，有两大历史性贡献影响深远：一是领导总结新中国成立以来党的历史经验，正确评价毛泽东的历史地位和毛泽东思想的科学体系；二是领导创立和发展邓小平理论，成功开辟在改革开放中建设中国特色社会主义的新道路，使中国大踏步赶上时代、迎来中华民族伟大复兴的光明前景。这两大历史性贡献贯穿着一个思想精髓，就是实事求是。习近平总书记说，邓小平一生的奋斗历程，充分展现了“始终坚持实事求是的理论品质”。在邓小平同志诞辰120周年之际，重温他的实事求是的科学态度、创造精神和非凡胆识，对于我们在新时代新征程上坚持实事求是的思想路线，全面建设社会主义现代化国家，实现第二个百年奋斗目标，具有重大现实意义。

I. Leading the Whole Party to Re-establish the Ideological Line of Seeking Truth from Facts

一、领导全党重新确立实事求是的思想路线

After the smashing of the “Gang of Four” in 1976, China’s development stood at a new historical juncture. The broad masses of cadres and the people strongly demanded correcting the “Left” errors of the “Cultural Revolution” and the period before it, bringing order out of chaos, and creating a new situation for China’s socialist development. However, they encountered resistance, namely the erroneous viewpoint of the “two whatevers” [1]1 These are the “three favorable” criteria (三个有利于), a formulation by Deng Xiaoping used to judge the success or failure of reform and opening-up policies. put forward by some people at the time. This ran counter to the fundamental interests and demands of the Chinese people. Yet, in the atmosphere of that time, it was difficult for people to openly express dissent against the “two whatevers.” It was precisely at this critical moment that Deng Xiaoping, who had not yet returned to work, was the first to step forward and unequivocally oppose the “two whatevers.” In February 1977, he pointed out: The “two whatevers” are not Marxism, nor Mao Zedong Thought. In April 1977, he further pointed out: The “two whatevers” will not do. On May 24, 1977, in a conversation with two comrades from the Central Committee, Deng Xiaoping systematically criticized the error of the “two whatevers.” He pointed out: “It is impossible for a person to be right in everything he says, or for a person to be absolutely correct”; “this is an important theoretical issue, an issue of whether one adheres to historical materialism.” He also stressed that even correct words cannot be applied indiscriminately; “it won’t do to take what Comrade Mao Zedong said on one issue and apply it to another, to take what he said in one place and apply it to another, to take what he said at one time and apply it to another, or to take what he said under one set of conditions and apply them to another.” He also emphasized: “Mao Zedong Thought is a system of thought”; it should be “regarded as a system,” and “Mao Zedong Thought must not be vulgarized.” These expositions were highly ideological and theoretical, criticizing the “two whatevers” from a political and philosophical height.

1976年粉碎“四人帮”后，中国的发展站在一个新的历史节点上。广大干部群众强烈要求纠正“文化大革命”及其以前的“左”的错误，拨乱反正，开创中国社会主义发展新局面。但是，遇到了阻力，这就是当时一些人提出的“两个凡是”的错误观点。这是违背中国人民的根本利益和要求的。可是，在当时那样一种氛围中，人们对“两个凡是”很难公开表示异议。正是在这一关键时刻，当时尚未恢复工作的邓小平最先站了出来，旗帜鲜明地表示反对“两个凡是”。1977年 2月，他指出：“两个凡是”不是马克思主义，不是毛泽东思想。1977年 4月，他又指出：“两个凡是”不行。1977年 5月24日，邓小平在同中央两位同志的谈话中，系统地批评了“两个凡是”的错误。他指出：“一个人讲的每句话都对，一个人绝对正确，没有这回事情”，“这是个重要的理论问题，是个是否坚持历史唯物主义的问题”。他又强调，即使是正确的话，也不能到处搬用，“把毛泽东同志在这个问题上讲的移到另外的问题上，在这个地点讲的移到另外的地点，在这个时间讲的移到另外的时间，在这个条件下讲的移到另外的条件下，这样做，不行嘛！”他还强调：“毛泽东思想是个思想体系”，要将其“当作体系来看待”，不能“把毛泽东思想庸俗化”。这些论述带有很强的思想理论性，从政治和哲学高度对“两个凡是”进行了批判。

The Third Plenary Session of the Tenth Central Committee of the Party, held from July 16 to 21, 1977, decided to restore Deng Xiaoping’s leadership positions in the Party Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission. Deng Xiaoping delivered a speech at the session, the central content of which was to emphasize a complete and accurate understanding of Mao Zedong Thought, with its edge still directed at the “two whatevers.” He said: “We must not understand Mao Zedong Thought only from isolated words and phrases, but must gain a correct understanding from the entire system of Mao Zedong Thought”; still less should we “use certain fragmentary utterances of Comrade Mao Zedong to deceive and intimidate people”; otherwise, it would be “distorting and tampering with Mao Zedong Thought.”

1977年 7月 16日至 21日召开的党的十届三中全会决定恢复邓小平在党中央、国务院、中央军委的领导职务，邓小平在会上发表讲话，中心内容是强调完整地、准确地理解毛泽东思想，其锋芒依然是指向“两个凡是”。他说：“不能够只从个别词句来理解毛泽东思想，而必须从毛泽东思想的整个体系去获得正确的理解”，更不能“引用毛泽东同志的某些片言只语来骗人、吓唬人”，否则就是“歪曲、篡改毛泽东思想”。

On May 11, 1978, the article “Practice Is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth” was publicly published and received warm support from the broad masses of cadres and the people. However, it also encountered resistance and opposition from some, who considered the article as “lowering the flag” and “throwing away the knife,” [2]2 The “doctrine of two points” (两点论) is a Chinese expression for the dialectical method of analyzing a thing by recognizing its two contradictory aspects. as a “mistake in orientation.” For a time, the situation became grave. On June 2, 1978, Deng Xiaoping delivered an important speech at the All-Army Conference on Political Work, giving resolute and powerful support to the article “Practice Is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth.” He said: “Some comrades talk about Mao Zedong Thought every day, yet they often forget, abandon, or even oppose Comrade Mao Zedong’s fundamental Marxist viewpoint and method of seeking truth from facts, proceeding from reality in everything, and integrating theory with practice”; “the issue they raise is not a small one; it concerns how to view Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought.” Around this time, he also talked with many comrades and delivered speeches during inspection tours to other places, clearly affirming and supporting the great debate on the criterion of truth, which enabled this great debate to unfold vigorously nationwide. It can be said that this great debate sounded the clarion call for the emancipation of the mind in contemporary China.

1978年 5月 11日，《实践是检验真理的唯一标准》一文公开发表，受到广大干部群众的热烈拥护。但是，也受到一些人的抵制和反对，认为这篇文章是“砍旗”“丢刀子”，是“方向性错误”。一时间，形势变得严峻起来。邓小平在 1978年 6月 2日全军政治工作会议上发表重要讲话，对《实践是检验真理的唯一标准》一文给予坚决有力的支持。他说：“一些同志天天讲毛泽东思想，却往往忘记、抛弃甚至反对毛泽东同志的实事求是、一切从实际出发、理论与实践相结合的这样一个马克思主义的根本观点，根本方法”，“他们提出的这个问题不是小问题，而是涉及到怎么看待马列主义、毛泽东思想的问题”。在此前后，他还同许多同志谈话，到外地视察时发表讲话，明确肯定和支持真理标准问题大讨论，使这场大讨论在全国范围内轰轰烈烈地开展起来。可以说，这场大讨论吹响了当代中国解放思想的号角。

On December 13, 1978, Deng Xiaoping delivered the important speech “Emancipate the Mind, Seek Truth from Facts, and Unite as One in Looking to the Future” at the closing session of the Central Work Conference, which in effect became the theme report for the subsequently held Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party. In his speech, Deng Xiaoping highly appraised the ongoing great debate on the criterion of truth, considering it “very necessary and of great significance,” and “in fact a debate on whether to emancipate the mind or not.” He emphasized: “If a party, a country, or a nation starts everything from books, becomes ossified in thinking, and allows superstition to prevail, it will cease to advance, its vitality will cease, and it will perish as a party and a nation.” “In this sense, the debate on the criterion of truth is indeed an issue of the ideological line, a political issue, an issue concerning the future and destiny of the Party and the state.” He proposed: “We must promptly study new situations and solve new problems”; “if we do not implement reform now, our modernization drive and our socialist cause will be buried.” This speech greatly promoted the re-establishment of the Party’s ideological line of seeking truth from facts and became the manifesto for emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and opening up the new period and new path in contemporary China.

1978年 12月 13日，邓小平在中央工作会议闭幕会上发表《解放思想，实事求是，团结一致向前看》的重要讲话，这实际上成为随后召开的党的十一届三中全会的主题报告。邓小平在讲话中高度评价了正在进行的真理标准问题大讨论，认为这场大讨论“很有必要，意义很大”，“实际上也是要不要解放思想的争论”。他强调：“一个党，一个国家，一个民族，如果一切从本本出发，思想僵化，迷信盛行，那它就不能前进，它的生机就停止了，就要亡党亡国。”“从这个意义上说，关于真理标准问题的争论，的确是个思想路线问题，是个政治问题，是个关系到党和国家的前途和命运的问题。”他提出：“要及时地研究新情况和解决新问题”，“如果现在再不实行改革，我们的现代化事业和社会主义事业就会被葬送”。这篇讲话极大推动了党的实事求是思想路线的重新确立，成为当代中国解放思想、实事求是、开辟新时期新道路的宣言书。

II. Appraising Mao Zedong’s Historical Status, the Scientific System of Mao Zedong Thought, and the Party’s History Since the Founding of New China in a Manner of Seeking Truth from Facts

二、实事求是评价毛泽东的历史地位和毛泽东思想的科学体系以及新中国成立以来党的历史

In the process of bringing order out of chaos and correcting “Left” errors, a Right erroneous trend of thought also emerged. Some people, using Mao Zedong’s mistakes in his later years as a pretext, denied his historical status and the scientific system of Mao Zedong Thought; using the Party’s mistakes in leading socialist construction as a pretext, they denied the Party’s leadership and the socialist system. This was another major issue of principle concerning the future and destiny of the Party and the state. On this issue, Deng Xiaoping once again demonstrated his principled stance of seeking truth from facts and his foresight and sagacity as a strategist. He delivered a series of important talks, guiding the writing and revision of the “Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China” (hereinafter referred to as the “Resolution”).

在拨乱反正、纠正“左”的错误的过程中，又出现了一种右的错误思潮。有人借口毛泽东晚年犯了错误而否定他的历史地位和毛泽东思想的科学体系；借口我们党在领导社会主义建设中发生的失误而否定党的领导和社会主义制度。这又是一个关系党和国家前途命运的重大原则问题。在这个问题上，邓小平再一次表现出实事求是的原则立场和作为战略家的远见卓识。他发表一系列重要谈话，指导《关于建国以来党的若干历史问题的决议》（以下简称《决议》）的写作和修改。

Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “The appraisal of Comrade Mao Zedong and the exposition of Mao Zedong Thought are not merely issues concerning Comrade Mao Zedong personally; they are inseparable from the entire history of our Party and our state. This overall situation must be seen.” “The part of the draft resolution expounding Mao Zedong Thought cannot be omitted. This is not just a theoretical issue, but especially a political issue, a very big political issue both at home and abroad. If this part is not written or is poorly written, it would be better not to make the entire resolution at all.” Mao Zedong made mistakes, “but they were the mistakes of a great revolutionary, the mistakes of a great Marxist.” Deng Xiaoping stressed that Mao Zedong’s mistakes should,

邓小平指出：“对毛泽东同志的评价，对毛泽东思想的阐述，不是仅仅涉及毛泽东同志个人的问题，这同我们党、我们国家的整个历史是分不开的。要看到这个全局。”“决议稿中阐述毛泽东思想的这一部分不能不要。这不只是个理论问题，尤其是个政治问题，是国际国内的很大的政治问题。如果不写或写不好这个部分，整个决议都不如不做。”毛泽东犯错误，“是一个伟大的革命家犯错误，是一个伟大的马克思主义者犯错误”。邓小平强调，对于毛泽东的错误，当然应当批评和纠正，但是一定要实事求是、恰如其分，不能写过头，“写过头，给毛泽东同志抹黑，也就是给我们党、我们国家抹黑。这是违背历史事实的”。

Under Deng Xiaoping’s guidance, the Resolution [1]1 These are the “three favorable” criteria (三个有利于), a formulation by Deng Xiaoping used to judge the success or failure of reform and opening-up policies. offered a high appraisal of Mao Zedong’s historical status based on seeking truth from facts, stating: “Comrade Mao Zedong was a great Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary, strategist, and theorist. Although he committed serious errors during the ‘Cultural Revolution,’ [2]2 The “doctrine of two points” (两点论) is a Chinese expression for the dialectical method of analyzing a thing by recognizing its two contradictory aspects. when his entire life is considered, his contributions to the Chinese revolution far outweigh his mistakes. His contributions are primary, his errors secondary.” The Resolution distinguished Mao Zedong Thought from Mao Zedong’s errors in his later years, stating: “Mao Zedong Thought is the application and development of Marxism-Leninism in China, the correct theoretical principles and summation of experience proven in practice concerning the Chinese revolution, and the crystallization of the collective wisdom of the Communist Party of China. Many outstanding leaders of our Party made important contributions to its formation and development, and Comrade Mao Zedong’s scientific works are its concentrated distillation.” The Resolution comprehensively, systematically, and profoundly expounded the six aspects constituting the scientific system of Mao Zedong Thought and its living soul — seeking truth from facts, the mass line, and independence and self-reliance — emphasizing that this is our Party’s precious spiritual asset that will guide our actions for a long time, thereby forcefully opposing two erroneous tendencies: “To deny the scientific value of Mao Zedong Thought and deny its guiding role in China’s revolution and construction simply because Comrade Mao Zedong committed errors in his later years is entirely wrong. To adopt a dogmatic attitude toward Comrade Mao Zedong’s words, to regard everything he said as immutable truth that must be copied and mechanically applied, even to refuse to acknowledge truthfully that Comrade Mao Zedong committed errors in his later years, and to attempt to persist in these errors in new practice, is also entirely wrong.”

在邓小平的指导下，《决议》对毛泽东的历史地位作了实事求是的高度评价，指出：“毛泽东同志是伟大的马克思主义者，是伟大的无产阶级革命家、战略家、理论家。他虽然在‘文化大革命’中犯了严重错误，但是就他的一生来看，他对中国革命的功绩远远大于他的过失。他的功绩是第一位的，错误是第二位的”。《决议》对毛泽东思想同毛泽东晚年的错误作了区分，指出：“毛泽东思想是马克思列宁主义在中国的运用和发展，是被实践证明了的关于中国革命的正确的理论原则和经验总结，是中国共产党集体智慧的结晶。我党许多卓越领导人对它的形成和发展都作出了重要贡献，毛泽东同志的科学著作是它的集中概括”。《决议》对构成毛泽东思想科学体系的六个方面问题及其活的灵魂——实事求是、群众路线、独立自主作了全面、系统、深刻的阐述，强调这是我们党的宝贵精神财富，将长期指导我们的行动，从而有力地反对了两种错误倾向：“因为毛泽东同志晚年犯了错误，就企图否认毛泽东思想的科学价值，否认毛泽东思想对我国革命和建设的指导作用，这种态度是完全错误的。对毛泽东同志的言论采取教条主义态度，以为凡是毛泽东同志说过的话都是不可移易的真理，只能照抄照搬，甚至不愿实事求是地承认毛泽东同志晚年犯了错误，并且还企图在新的实践中坚持这些错误，这种态度也是完全错误的”。

At the same time, Deng Xiaoping made a concrete analysis based on seeking truth from facts of the history of the thirty-two years after the founding of New China. He said: “The achievements of the first seven years after the founding of the state are universally recognized. Our socialist transformation was successful and remarkable.” “As for the ten years before the ‘Cultural Revolution,’ it should be affirmed that, on the whole, things were good, and development was basically on a healthy track. There were twists and turns and mistakes in this period, but achievements were primary” — it was a decade of tortuous progress. The errors of the ten-year “Cultural Revolution,” compared with those that appeared in the preceding seventeen years, “were serious and overall errors. Their consequences were extremely grave.” Upholding truth and correcting errors — this is our principled stance. On this issue, the Resolution pointed out that two erroneous tendencies must be opposed: “It is impermissible to overlook or cover up errors; doing so is itself an error and will lead to even greater errors. However, the achievements we have made over the past thirty-two years are still primary. To overlook or deny our achievements, to overlook or deny the successful experience gained in achieving them, is equally a serious error.” Our achievements and successful experience are the result of the Party and the people creatively applying Marxism-Leninism, a manifestation of the superiority of the socialist system, and the foundation for the continued advance of the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country. On this major issue, we must be firm in our stance and clear in our position.

同时，邓小平对新中国成立后三十二年的历史作了实事求是的具体分析。他说：“建国头七年的成绩是大家一致公认的。我们的社会主义改造是搞得成功的，很了不起。”“‘文化大革命’前的十年，应当肯定，总的是好的，基本上是在健康的道路上发展的。这中间有过曲折，犯过错误，但成绩是主要的”，是曲折前进的十年。十年“文化大革命”的错误同前十七年中出现的错误相比，则“是严重的、全局性的错误。它的后果极其严重”。坚持真理，修正错误，这是我们的原则立场。在这个问题上，《决议》指出，必须反对两种错误倾向：“忽视错误、掩盖错误是不允许的，这本身就是错误，而且将招致更多更大的错误。但是，三十二年来我们取得的成就还是主要的，忽视或否认我们的成就，忽视或否认取得这些成就的成功经验，同样是严重的错误”。我们的成就和成功经验是党和人民创造性地运用马克思列宁主义的结果，是社会主义制度优越性的表现，是全党和全国各族人民继续前进的基础，在这个重大问题上，我们必须立场坚定，旗帜鲜明。

III. Rooted in China’s National Conditions, Blazing the Path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

三、立足中国国情，开创中国特色社会主义道路

In the international communist movement, there had long existed a rigid concept of the socialist model, which sanctified and congealed the socialist model established in the Soviet Union in the 1930s, holding that adhering to this model meant adhering to socialism, while deviating from it meant deviating from socialism. This situation severely fettered people’s thinking, preventing the full realization of the superiority of the socialist system. Mao Zedong had long been aware of this. In April 1956, he delivered the speech “On the Ten Major Relationships” [3]3 Deng Xiaoping’s self-description “I am a pragmatist” (我是实事求是派) literally means “I am of the school of seeking truth from facts,” a key principle of Mao Zedong Thought. at an enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, proposing the task of taking the Soviet Union as a mirror and independently exploring a path for China’s socialist construction. However, due to subjective and objective constraints, he did not complete this task.

在国际共产主义运动中，长期存在一种僵化的社会主义模式观念，那就是将苏联在 20世纪 30年代建立的社会主义模式神圣化、凝固化，认为坚持这个模式就是坚持社会主义，违背这个模式就是违背社会主义。这种情况严重束缚了人们的思想，使社会主义制度的优越性不能得到充分发挥。毛泽东对此早有察觉。1956年4月，他在中共中央政治局扩大会议上作了《论十大关系》的讲话，提出以苏为戒、独立探索中国社会主义建设道路的任务。但是由于主观和客观条件限制，他没有完成这个任务。

Under new historical conditions, Deng Xiaoping raised this issue anew and engaged in deep reflection on how to correctly resolve it. Drawing on the historical experience of the Chinese revolution, he stated: “In the past, when we were carrying out the democratic revolution, we had to suit it to China’s conditions and take the path of encircling the cities from the countryside, which Comrade Mao Zedong pioneered. Now, in construction, we must also suit it to China’s conditions and blaze a Chinese-style path of modernization.” In his opening speech to the Twelfth National Congress of the CPC, [4]4 The Twelfth National Congress of the CPC was held in 1982, at which Deng Xiaoping formally proposed the concept of “building socialism with Chinese characteristics.” he first put forward the new scientific concept of “socialism with Chinese characteristics,” stating: “To integrate the universal truth of Marxism with the concrete reality of our country, take our own path, and build socialism with Chinese characteristics — this is the basic conclusion we have drawn from summing up long-term historical experience.” This basic conclusion is a summation of the historical experience of socialism in China and also in the world. Deng Xiaoping said that our past political system “came from the Soviet model. It seems that this model was not very successful even in the Soviet Union.” “After the success of a revolution, each country must build socialism according to its own conditions. There is no fixed model, nor can there be one.” This basic conclusion is an inheritance and development of Mao Zedong Thought under new historical conditions, fully embodying Deng Xiaoping’s immense political courage in inheriting from predecessors while advancing with the times and blazing the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics in practice, and his immense theoretical courage in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. From then on, “socialism with Chinese characteristics” became the theme of the reports of successive National Congresses of the CPC and the main thread running through all the practical and theoretical activities of the Party and the state.

在新的历史条件下，邓小平重新提出这个问题，并对如何正确解决这个问题进行了深入思考。他联系中国革命的历史经验指出：“过去搞民主革命，要适合中国情况，走毛泽东同志开辟的农村包围城市的道路。现在搞建设，也要适合中国情况，走出一条中国式的现代化道路。”在党的十二大开幕词中，他第一次提出“有中国特色的社会主义”这一崭新科学思想，指出：“把马克思主义的普遍真理同我国的具体实际结合起来，走自己的道路，建设有中国特色的社会主义，这就是我们总结长期历史经验得出的基本结论”。这个基本结论，是对我国，也是对世界社会主义历史经验的总结。邓小平说，我们过去的政治体制“是从苏联模式来的。看来这个模式在苏联也不是很成功的”。“在革命成功后，各国必须根据自己的条件建设社会主义。固定的模式是没有的，也不可能有。”这个基本结论是在新的历史条件下对毛泽东思想的继承和发展，充分体现邓小平继承前人又与时俱进，在实践中开辟中国特色社会主义道路的巨大政治勇气和开辟马克思主义中国化时代化新境界的巨大理论勇气。从此，“中国特色社会主义”成为党的历次全国代表大会报告的主题词，成为党和国家全部实践活动和理论活动的主题主线。

Socialism with Chinese characteristics is socialism deeply rooted in Chinese soil. National conditions determine national policies. Deng Xiaoping said: “Socialism itself is the primary stage of communism, and China is in the primary stage of socialism, the stage of underdevelopment. Everything must proceed from this reality and formulate plans based on this reality.” The “Left” errors of the past lay in “formulating policies that surpassed the primary stage of socialism.” Since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, [5]5 The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, held in 1978, marked the beginning of the reform and opening-up era and the shift of the Party’s focus to economic construction. the Party’s basic line centered on economic construction, upholding the Four Cardinal Principles, [6]6 The Four Cardinal Principles are: upholding the socialist path, the people’s democratic dictatorship, the leadership of the CPC, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. and adhering to reform and opening up, the “three-step” development strategy, the basic economic system with public ownership as the mainstay and diverse forms of ownership developing together, and the distribution system with distribution according to work as the mainstay and multiple modes of distribution coexisting — all these are rooted in the national condition of the primary stage of socialism. With this fundamental foothold, we will more consciously follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and always maintain political sobriety and firmness.

中国特色社会主义是深深植根中华大地的社会主义。国情决定国策。邓小平说：“社会主义本身是共产主义的初级阶段，而我们中国又处在社会主义的初级阶段，就是不发达的阶段。一切都要从这个实际出发，根据这个实际来制定规划。”过去“左”的错误就在于“制定的政策超越了社会主义的初级阶段”。党的十一届三中全会以来，我们党制定的以经济建设为中心、坚持四项基本原则、坚持改革开放的基本路线，分“三步走”的发展战略，公有制为主体、多种所有制共同发展的基本经济制度，按劳分配为主体、多种分配方式并存的分配制度等，都是立足于社会主义初级阶段这个国情基础上的。有了这个根本的立足点，我们就会更加自觉地走中国特色社会主义道路，始终保持政治上的清醒和坚定。

IV. Emphasizing that the Success of China’s Reform and Opening Up “Depends Not on Dogma, but on Practice, on Seeking Truth from Facts”

四、强调中国改革开放的成功，“不是靠本本，而是靠实践，靠实事求是”

Reform and opening up is the most distinctive feature of Deng Xiaoping Theory. In leading this unprecedented great undertaking, he repeatedly stressed that there were no ready-made experiences to copy; it could only rely on the exploration and creation of the entire Party and the masses of the people in practice. In 1992, during his talks in the South, [7]7 Deng Xiaoping’s talks in the South (1992) were a series of speeches during his inspection tour of southern China, which reaffirmed the direction of reform and opening up and promoted market-oriented economic reforms. he said: “Seeking truth from facts is the essence of Marxism. We should advocate this, not dogma. The success of our reform and opening up depends not on dogma, but on practice, on seeking truth from facts.”

改革开放是邓小平理论最鲜明的特色。他在领导这一前无古人的伟大事业中反复强调，没有现成经验可供照搬，只能依靠全党和人民群众在实践中探索和创造。1992年，他在南方谈话中说：“实事求是是马克思主义的精髓。要提倡这个，不要提倡本本。我们改革开放的成功，不是靠本本，而是靠实践，靠实事求是。”

The viewpoint of practice is the primary and fundamental viewpoint of Marxist epistemology. Deng Xiaoping Theory everywhere embodies a scientific attitude of respecting practice and a creative spirit of developing Marxism in practice. He said that reform and opening up should “be bold in experimenting and bold in forging ahead,” “Without a spirit of daring, without a spirit of ‘taking risks,’ without a certain drive and energy, it is impossible to blaze a good path, to blaze a new path, and to accomplish a new undertaking.” In the course of reform and opening up, various debates often arose. How should these debates be handled? Deng Xiaoping said: “Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth, and practice is the sole criterion for testing whether a line, a policy, or a measure is correct.” Whether a line of thinking, a viewpoint, or a method is correct must be judged by practice; we must “let facts speak.” Do not engage in abstract debates, because “once debates start, things become complicated, time is wasted, and nothing gets done.”

实践观点是马克思主义认识论首要的、基本的观点。邓小平理论处处体现尊重实践的科学态度和在实践中发展马克思主义的创造精神。他说，改革开放要“大胆地试，大胆地闯”，“没有一点闯的精神，没有一点‘冒’的精神，没有一股气呀、劲呀，就走不出一条好路，走不出一条新路，就干不出新的事业”。在改革开放中，常常发生各种各样的争论，怎样对待这些争论？邓小平说：“实践是检验真理的唯一标准，实践是检验路线、方针、政策是否正确的唯一标准。”一条思路、一个观点、一个办法，是否正确，要由实践作结论，要“拿事实来说话”。不要搞抽象争论，因为“一争论就复杂了，把时间都争掉了，什么也干不成”。

What should be done when mistakes occur in the course of experimentation and exploration? Deng Xiaoping said, first, do not be afraid. “Be bold in action, steady in pace, and review each step as you go,” and “One must overcome a fear of doing things and have courage. Someone always has to be the first to try something before a new path can be opened. The first to try must be prepared to fail, and failure is not a problem.” Second, always pay attention to summing up experience. “The leadership at every level must sum up experience at regular intervals; what is correct should be upheld, what is wrong should be corrected promptly, and new problems should be tackled as soon as they arise,” and “As practice develops, what needs to be improved should be improved, and what needs to be patched up should be patched up.”

在试验和探索中犯了错误怎么办？邓小平说，第一，不要怕。“胆子要大，步子要稳，走一步，看一步”，“要克服一个怕字，要有勇气。什么事情总要有人试第一个，才能开拓新路。试第一个就要准备失败，失败也不要紧”。第二，随时注意总结经验。“每年领导层都要总结经验，对的就坚持，不对的赶快改，新问题出来抓紧解决”，“随着实践的发展，该完善的完善，该修补的修补”。

During reform and opening up, some people could not take a step forward, endlessly worrying that too many capitalist elements would appear and that the capitalist road would be taken. The crux was the question of whether something was “socialist” or “capitalist.” Deng Xiaoping said: “The criterion for judgment should be whether it is conducive to developing the productive forces of a socialist society, whether it is conducive to enhancing the comprehensive national strength of a socialist country, and whether it is conducive to improving the people’s standard of living.” [1]1 These are the “three favorable” criteria (三个有利于), a formulation by Deng Xiaoping used to judge the success or failure of reform and opening-up policies. Anything that conforms to the “three favorable” criteria is socialist or beneficial to socialism; anything that does not conform is not socialist. This enabled people to achieve a great ideological emancipation.

在改革开放中，有人迈不开步子，说来说去就是怕资本主义的东西多了，走了资本主义道路。要害是姓“资”还是姓“社”的问题。邓小平说：“判断的标准，应该主要看是否有利于发展社会主义社会的生产力，是否有利于增强社会主义国家的综合国力，是否有利于提高人民的生活水平。”凡是符合“三个有利于”的东西，都是社会主义的或者有利于社会主义的；凡是不符合“三个有利于”的东西，都不是社会主义的。这就使人们获得了思想大解放。

Respect for practice is consistent with respect for the masses. The masses are the main body of practice and also the main body of cognition. The creative practice of the masses is the source of wisdom for our Party. The mass viewpoint and the mass line are another fundamental viewpoint and fundamental method running through Deng Xiaoping Theory. He was always attentive to the interests, wishes, and demands of the broadest masses of the people, taking whether the people support, approve, are happy with, or agree to something as the starting point and end point for considering all issues. He placed great importance on summing up the experience and creativity of the masses, repeatedly emphasizing that he himself had done a few things, but could not claim that he had invented them; in fact, many things were invented by others, invented by the masses, and he had merely summarized them and put forward policies and guidelines. Speaking of rural reform, he said: “The household contract responsibility system with remuneration linked to output in rural areas was invented by the peasants. Many things in rural reform were created at the grassroots level; we took them, processed and raised them, and used them as national guidance.” “In rural reform, the biggest gain we had not anticipated at all was the rise of township and village enterprises, which suddenly emerged engaging in multiple industries, commodity production, and various small enterprises, rising as a new force. This was not the achievement of the Central Committee… If the Central Committee had any merit on this issue, it was that the invigorating policies formulated by the Central Committee were correct.” Speaking of the establishment of special economic zones, Deng Xiaoping said: “At the beginning, Guangdong proposed setting up special zones, and I agreed with their opinion, saying the name should be ‘special economic zones.’” It was precisely this stance and attitude of respecting the fundamental interests and pioneering spirit of the masses that gave Deng Xiaoping Theory an inexhaustible source of vitality, enabling it to maintain its vigorous vitality and dynamism.

尊重实践同尊重群众是一致的。人民群众是实践的主体，也是认识的主体。人民群众的创造性实践，是我们党的智慧之源。群众观点和群众路线是贯穿邓小平理论的又一个根本观点和根本方法。他时刻关注最广大人民群众的利益、愿望和要求，把人民拥护不拥护、赞成不赞成、高兴不高兴、答应不答应作为考虑一切问题的出发点、落脚点。他十分重视总结人民群众的经验和创造，反复强调，我个人做了一点事，但不能说都是我发明的，其实很多事是别人发明的，群众发明的，我只不过是把它们概括起来，提出了方针政策。谈到农村改革，他说：“农村搞家庭联产承包，这个发明权是农民的。农村改革中的好多东西，都是基层创造出来，我们把它拿来加工提高作为全国的指导。”“农村改革中，我们完全没有预料到的最大收获，就是乡镇企业发展起来了，突然冒出搞多种行业，搞商品经济，搞各种小型企业，异军突起。这不是我们中央的功绩……如果说在这个问题上中央有点功绩的话，就是中央制定的搞活政策是对头的。”谈到办经济特区，邓小平说：“开始的时候广东提出搞特区，我同意了他们的意见，我说名字叫经济特区。”正是这种尊重群众根本利益和首创精神的立场和态度，使邓小平理论有了取之不尽、用之不竭的源头活水，始终保持其蓬勃生机与活力。

V. Advocate Handling Affairs According to Dialectics, Uphold “Grasping with Both Hands, Both Hands Must Be Firm”

五、提倡照辩证法办事，坚持“两手抓，两手都要硬”

Dialectics is also epistemology. Without dialectical thinking, it is impossible to truly seek truth from facts. “Handle affairs according to dialectics” is a famous saying of Deng Xiaoping. On February 15, 1945, when Mao Zedong gave a report at the Central Party School, he said: “Comrade Deng Xiaoping said: How should things be done? Handle them according to dialectics. I agree with his words.” On January 27, 1957, when Mao Zedong spoke at a meeting of secretaries of provincial, municipal, and autonomous regional Party committees, he once again mentioned Deng Xiaoping’s words, saying: “We must handle affairs according to dialectics. This was said by Comrade Deng Xiaoping. In my view, the whole Party should study dialectics and advocate handling affairs according to dialectics.” This shows Mao Zedong’s high regard and approval of Deng Xiaoping’s statement.

辩证法也是认识论。没有辩证思维，不可能真正做到实事求是。“照辩证法办事”，是邓小平的名言。1945年 2月 15日，毛泽东在中共中央党校作报告时说：“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 27日，毛泽东在省市自治区党委书记会议上讲话时，又一次提到邓小平的这句话说：“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。”可见毛泽东对邓小平这句话的高度重视和赞同。

Regarding how to achieve adherence to dialectics, Deng Xiaoping advocated speaking in two sentences, that is, understanding the world requires speaking in terms of “the doctrine of two points.” [2]2 The “doctrine of two points” (两点论) is a Chinese expression for the dialectical method of analyzing a thing by recognizing its two contradictory aspects. Things are all contradictions, and contradictions all include two aspects that are both opposing and unified; speaking in two sentences can reflect the full picture of things. One-sidedness is also subjectivity. Therefore, when summing up experience, observing the situation, formulating policies, and evaluating people and events, one must speak in two sentences and oppose any kind of one-sidedness. For example, when Deng Xiaoping spoke about Marxism, he said that the ancestors cannot be abandoned, but new things must also be said; when speaking about the evaluation of Mao Zedong, he said that his achievements are primary and his errors secondary; when speaking about the Party’s leadership, he said that Party leadership must be upheld, but Party leadership must also be improved; in his Southern Talks, when speaking about opposing erroneous tendencies within the Party, he said that if there is Right deviation, oppose it, and if there is “Left” deviation, oppose it, be vigilant against Right deviation, but mainly prevent “Left” deviation; when speaking about the principle of distribution, he said that egalitarianism is not socialism, nor is polarization; and so on. These are all two sentences, not one sentence.

关于如何才能做到遵循辩证法，邓小平主张讲两句话，即认识世界要讲“两点论”。事物都是矛盾，矛盾都包括既对立又统一的两个方面，讲两句话才能反映事物的全貌。片面性也是主观性。所以，总结经验、观察形势、制定政策、看人论事，都要讲两句话，反对任何一种片面性。比如，邓小平讲到马克思主义时说，老祖宗不能丢，又要讲新话；讲到对毛泽东的评价时说，他的功绩是第一位的，错误是第二位的；讲到党的领导时说，坚持党的领导，又要改善党的领导；在南方谈话中讲到反对党内错误倾向时说，有右反右，有“左”反“左”，警惕右，但主要是防止“左”；讲到分配原则时说，平均主义不是社会主义，两极分化也不是社会主义；等等。这些都是两句话，而不是一句话。

Deng Xiaoping also had another saying: “Grasp with both hands, both hands must be firm.” This is the “doctrine of two points” applied to transforming the world. He emphasized a series of “grasping with both hands,” including: one hand grasps reform and opening up, the other hand grasps opposing bourgeois liberalization; one hand grasps material civilization construction, the other hand grasps cultural-ethical progress; “one hand grasps construction, the other hand grasps the legal system”; “one hand grasps reform and opening up, the other hand grasps cracking down on all kinds of criminal activities”; “one hand grasps reform and opening up, the other hand grasps punishing corruption”; and so on. Not only must both hands grasp, but “both hands must be firm.” He repeatedly criticized the phenomenon of one hand being relatively firm and the other relatively soft. In January 1986, in a speech at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, he pointed out: “We have achieved considerable success with the economic construction front, and the situation is gratifying; this is our country’s success. But if the social atmosphere deteriorates, what significance does economic success have? It will deteriorate in another respect, and in turn affect the overall economy, leading to deterioration; if it develops, it will form a world rampant with corruption, theft, and bribery.” In his 1992 Southern Talks, he devoted a separate section to the issue of “grasping with both hands, both hands must be firm,” elevating it to a matter concerning the future and destiny of the Party and the state, saying: “We have only been building socialism for a few decades and are still in the primary stage. Consolidating and developing the socialist system will require a very long historical stage, requiring the unremitting efforts of several generations, a dozen generations, or even several dozen generations; we must never take it lightly.”

邓小平还有一句话，叫“两手抓，两手都要硬”。这是改造世界的“两点论”。他强调了一系列的“两手抓”，包括一手抓改革开放，一手抓反对资产阶级自由化；一手抓物质文明建设，一手抓精神文明建设；“一手抓建设，一手抓法制”；“一手抓改革开放，一手抓打击各种犯罪活动”；“一手抓改革开放，一手抓惩治腐败”；等等。不但要“两手抓”，而且要“两手都要硬”。他多次批评一手比较硬、一手比较软的现象。1986年 1月，他在中共中央政治局常委会上讲话指出：“经济建设这一手我们搞得相当有成绩，形势喜人，这是我们国家的成功。但风气如果坏下去，经济搞成功又有什么意义？会在另一方面变质，反过来影响整个经济变质，发展下去会形成贪污、盗窃、贿赂横行的世界。”在 1992年的南方谈话中，他专列一节讲“两手抓，两手都要硬”的问题，把它提高到关系党和国家前途命运的高度说：“我们搞社会主义才几十年，还处在初级阶段。巩固和发展社会主义制度，还需要一个很长的历史阶段，需要我们几代人、十几代人，甚至几十代人坚持不懈地努力奋斗，决不能掉以轻心。”

VI. Uphold Seeking Truth and Being Pragmatic, Oppose Formalism

六、坚持求真务实，反对形式主义

Deng Xiaoping said: “I am a pragmatist.” [3]3 Deng Xiaoping’s self-description “I am a pragmatist” (我是实事求是派) literally means “I am of the school of seeking truth from facts,” a key principle of Mao Zedong Thought. This was manifested not only in his fundamental attitude toward Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought and in his major policies for governing the Party, the state, and the military, but also in his ideological style and work style. Deng Xiaoping was a person who sought truth and was pragmatic. His speeches were concise, unadorned, combining theory with practice; when expounding principles, he was not vague; when discussing practical matters, he was not trivial; they were easy to listen to and effective. He detested empty talk and clichés, repeatedly emphasizing opposition to formalism.

邓小平说：“我是实事求是派。”这不仅表现在他对待马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想的根本态度上和他治党治国治军的大政方针上，而且表现在他的思想作风和工作作风上。邓小平是一个求真务实的人。他讲话言简意赅，朴实无华，理论结合实际，讲道理不空泛，讲实际不琐碎，受听管用。他讨厌空话套话，反复强调反对形式主义。

In the early 1960s, the “cat theory” that Deng Xiaoping often mentioned was a typical pragmatic argument. “It doesn’t matter whether the cat is yellow or black, as long as it catches mice, it is a good cat.” This was originally a Sichuan saying often used by Liu Bocheng, referring to the revolutionary war: “The reason we were able to defeat Chiang Kai-shek was that we did not adhere to old rules, did not follow old paths, but acted according to circumstances, and winning was what counted.” Deng Xiaoping applied this saying flexibly to the issue of restoring agricultural production at the time. He pointed out that restoring agricultural production “depends on the circumstances; that is, we cannot adopt a completely fixed form in relations of production; we should adopt whichever form can mobilize the enthusiasm of the masses.” This means that form serves content, means are subordinate to ends, and any method that can solve the problem is a good method. Later, the criteria of productive forces, the criterion of people’s satisfaction, and the “three favorable” judgment criteria he put forward all embodied such a pragmatic work attitude and work style.

20世纪 60年代初，邓小平经常提到的“猫论”，就是典型的务实之论。“黄猫、黑猫，只要捉住老鼠就是好猫”，这本是刘伯承经常讲的一句四川话，说的是革命战争中，“我们之所以能够打败蒋介石，就是不讲老规矩，不按老路子打，一切看情况，打赢算数”。邓小平活用这句话来讲当时恢复农业生产问题。他指出，恢复农业生产，“要看情况，就是在生产关系上不能完全采取一种固定不变的形式，看用哪种形式能够调动群众的积极性就采用哪种形式”。这就是说，形式服务内容，手段服从目的，能解决问题的办法就是好办法。后来他讲的生产力标准、人民满意标准、“三个有利于”的判断标准等，都体现了这样一种求真务实的工作态度和工作作风。

In the early period of reform and opening up, Deng Xiaoping, in response to the state of ideological rigidity and semi-rigidity at the time, proposed that leading cadres should not merely act as a "mailroom." He said: "The responsibility of our leading cadres is to integrate the directives of the central authorities and the instructions of higher-level authorities with the actual conditions of their own units, to analyze problems and solve problems, and not to act as a 'mailroom,' simply copying and transmitting mechanically." He criticized some people for setting responsibility to higher authorities in opposition to responsibility to the people, stating that "if it is not in the books, not in the documents, and not spoken by the leaders, they dare not say one more word or do one more thing, simply copying, imitating, and transmitting everything." "We have no shortage of mental sluggards, many who speak clichés and empty words," while few truly and carefully study new situations and solve new problems. He deeply detested formalism, emphasizing: "Formalism that pursues superficial show, disregarding actual results, actual efficiency, actual speed, actual quality, and actual costs must be stopped. The bad habit of speaking empty words, speaking big words, and speaking false words must be eradicated."

在改革开放初期，邓小平针对当时思想僵化半僵化状态，提出领导干部不要只是当“收发室”。他说：“我们领导干部的责任，就是要把中央的指示、上级的指示同本单位的实际情况结合起来，分析问题，解决问题，不能当‘收发室’，简单地照抄照转。”他批评一些人把对上级负责和对人民负责对立起来，“书上没有的，文件上没有的，领导人没有讲过的，就不敢多说一句话，多做一件事，一切照抄照搬照转”。“我们的思想懒汉不少，讲现话、空话的多”，真正仔细地研究新情况、解决新问题的少。他十分厌恶形式主义，强调：“追求表面文章，不讲实际效果、实际效率、实际速度、实际质量、实际成本的形式主义必须制止。说空话、说大话、说假话的恶习必须杜绝”。

In 1992, Deng Xiaoping severely criticized formalism in his Southern Tour Talks. He said: "There is a problem now, namely, too much formalism. As soon as the television is turned on, it is all meetings. There are too many meetings, articles are too long, speeches are too long, and the content is repetitive, with not much new language. Repetitive words must be spoken, but they should be concise. Formalism is also bureaucracy. Time must be freed up to do more practical things, to do more and speak less. Chairman Mao did not hold long meetings; his articles were short and concise, and his speeches were also very succinct. Premier Zhou's report to the Fourth National People's Congress, which Chairman Mao assigned me to draft, required it to be no more than 5,000 characters, and I completed the task. [8]8 The Fourth National People's Congress was held in 1975; Zhou Enlai delivered the government work report, which Deng Xiaoping helped draft under Mao Zedong's instruction to keep it concise. 5,000 characters—wasn't that also very effective? I suggest we address this issue." These words were spoken more than 30 years ago, yet reading them today still feels highly relevant to current realities.

1992年，邓小平在南方谈话中对形式主义进行了严厉批评。他说：“现在有一个问题，就是形式主义多。电视一打开，尽是会议。会议多，文章太长，讲话也太长，而且内容重复，新的语言并不很多。重复的话要讲，但要精简。形式主义也是官僚主义。要腾出时间来多办实事，多做少说。毛主席不开长会，文章短而精，讲话也很精练。周总理四届人大的报告，毛主席指定我负责起草，要求不得超过五千字，我完成了任务。五千字，不是也很管用吗？我建议抓一下这个问题。”这些话距今已有 30多年，今天读来依然感到有强烈的现实意义。

Deng Xiaoping repeatedly emphasized that seeking truth from facts is the foundation of the proletarian world outlook, the ideological foundation of Marxism, and the fundamental viewpoint and fundamental method of Mao Zedong Thought. He said: "All the victories we achieved in the past in revolution relied on seeking truth from facts; now, to achieve the Four Modernizations, we must also rely on seeking truth from facts." On the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country and advancing toward the second centenary goal, we must deeply study Deng Xiaoping's theoretical quality of seeking truth from facts, adhere to emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and being pragmatic and realistic, and continuously make new contributions to comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.

邓小平反复强调，实事求是，是无产阶级世界观的基础，是马克思主义的思想基础，是毛泽东思想的根本观点、根本方法。他说：“过去我们搞革命所取得的一切胜利，是靠实事求是；现在我们要实现四个现代化，同样要靠实事求是。”在全面建设社会主义现代化国家、向第二个百年奋斗目标进军的新征程中，我们要深入学习邓小平实事求是的理论品质，坚持解放思想、实事求是、与时俱进、求真务实，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业不断作出新贡献。

(Author: Yang Chungui, former Vice President and Professor of the Central Party School of the CPC)

（作者：杨春贵，原中共中央党校副校长、教授）

Online Editor: Jin Qiu

网络编辑：金秋