Embrace Criticism, Practice Self-Reflection: Knowing China Through the Classics

In quoting these lines from an ancient classic at a plenary session of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, held on January 12, 2016, President Xi Jinping was encouraging officials to make full use of criticism and self-criticism as a tool for improving themselves. He said they should have the courage to confront their own shortcomings and mistakes, and take the initiative to correct them; they should be willing to point out the shortcomings and mistakes of others, and to help them improve; and they should, when receiving criticism from fellow Party members, welcome such feedback and accept it with humility.

Origin of the Classic Quote

This quote is taken from the chapter The Biography of Lord Shang in Records of the Grand Historian. It recounts how, during Shang Yang's ten-year tenure as Chancellor of the State of Qin, many members of the royal family and powerful nobles had grown resentful of him. A man named Zhao Liang came to Shang with some words of advice: "He who hearkens with the inner ear is a man of quick hearing; he who turns his eyes inwards is a man of clear vision; and he who conquers himself is said to be strong."

What these words mean is, those who listen to the opinions of others are wise, those who reflect on themselves are insightful, and those who can restrain and overcome themselves are strong.

Although attributed by Sima Qian to Zhao Liang, these words were actually drawn from the Tao Te Ching: "Those who understand others are wise; those who understand themselves are enlightened. Those who overcome others are powerful; those who overcome themselves are strong."