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Deng Xiaoping

26 quotes

“It doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) first seen 1962 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Hung Li China's Political Situation and the Power Struggle in Peking (1977), p. 107; according to Chambers Dictionary of Quotations (1993), p. 315, this quote is from a speech at the Communist Youth League …
“The United States brags about its political system, but the [[President of the United States|[American] President]] says one thing during the election, something else when he takes office, something else at midterm and something else when he leaves.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) first seen 1983 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: When asked about China's political stability by a group of American professors in 1983, as quoted in The Pacific Rim and the Western World: Strategic, Economic, and Cultural Perspectives (1987), p. 105
“A basic contradiction between socialism and the market economy does not exist.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) first seen 1993 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Daily report: People's Republic of China, Editions 240-249 (1993), p. 30
“When our thousands of Chinese students abroad return home, you will see how China will transform itself.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Forbes, Vol. 176, Editions 7-13 (2005), p. 79
“We mustn't fear to adopt the advanced management methods applied in capitalist countries (...) The very essence of socialism is the liberation and development of the productive systems (...) Socialism and market economy are not incompatible (...) We should be concerned about right-wing deviations, but most of all, we must be concerned about left-wing deviations.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Cited by António Caeiro in Pela China Dentro (translated), Dom Quixote, Lisboa, 2004.
“If you open a window for fresh air, you have to expect some flies to blow in.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Self-reliance in no way means “self-seclusion” and rejection of foreign aid. We have always considered it beneficial and necessary for the development of the national economy that countries should carry on economic and technical exchanges on the basis of respect for state sovereignty, equality and mutual benefit, and the exchange of needed goods to make up for each other’s deficiencies.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We hold that in both political and economic relations, countries should base themselves on the Five Principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. We are opposed to the establishment of hegemony and spheres of influence by any country in any part of the world in violation of these principles.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We hold that all countries, big or small, rich or poor, should be equal, and that international economic affairs should be jointly managed by all the countries of the world instead of being monopolized by the one or two superpowers. We support the full right of the developing countries, which comprise the great majority of the world’s population, to take part in all decision-making on international trade, monetary, shipping and other matters.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We hold that international trade should be based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit and the exchange of needed goods. We support the urgent demand of the developing countries to improve trade terms for their raw materials, primary products and semi-manufactured and manufactured goods, to expand their market and to fix equitable and favourable prices. We support the developing countries in establishing various organizations of raw material exporting countries for a united struggle against colonialism, imperialism and hegemonism.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We hold that economic aid to the developing countries must strictly respect the sovereignty of the recipient countries and must not be accompanied by any political or military conditions and the extortion of any special privileges or excessive profits. Loans to the developing countries should be interest-free or low-interest and allow for delayed repayment of capital and interest, or even reduction and cancellation of debts in case of necessity. We are opposed to the exploitation of developing countries by usury or blackmail in the name of aid.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We hold that technology transferred to the developing countries must be practical, efficient, economical and convenient for use. The experts and other personnel dispatched to the recipient countries have the obligation to pass on conscientiously technical know-how to the people there and to respect the laws and national customs of the countries concerned. They must not make special demands or ask for special amenities, let alone engage in illegal activities.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If one day China should change her colour and turn into a superpower, if she too should play the tyrant in the world, and everywhere subject others to her bullying, aggression and exploitation, the people of the world should identify her as social-imperialism, expose it, oppose it and work together with the Chinese people to overthrow it.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Marxism has consistently treated science and technology as part of the productive forces. More than a century ago, Marx said that expansion of the use of machinery in production requires the conscious application of natural science. Science too, he said, is among the productive forces.The development of modern science and technology has bound science and production ever more tightly together. It is becoming increasingly clear that science and technology are of tremendous significance as productive forces.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Science and technology are part of the productive forces. Mental workers who serve socialism are part of the working people. A correct understanding of these two facts is essential to the rapid development of our scientific enterprises. Once we have accepted these premises, it follows that we must make every effort to develop scientific research and education in science and to encourage the revolutionary initiative of our scientific, technical and educational workers.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For the modernization of science and technology, we must have a mighty scientific and technical force serving the working class, a force which is both “red and expert” and includes a large number of scientists, engineers and technicians who are first rate by world standards. It will not be easy for us to build up such a force.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The discovery and training of talented people by our scientists and teachers is in itself an achievement and a contribution to the country. The history of science shows us the tremendous importance of discovering genuinely talented persons. Some of the world’s scientists look upon the finding and training of new talent as the crowning achievement of a lifetime devoted to science. There is much to be said for this view.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But… look, Chairman Mao made mistakes, yes. Nonetheless, he was one of the principal founders of the Communist Party of China and the People’s Republic of China. Thus, when we look at his merits together with his mistakes, we think that his mistakes take second place, while his merits take first. And this means that the contribution he made to the Chinese revolution cannot be forgotten and that the Chinese people will always cherish his memory; they will always think of him as one of the founders of the party and of the republic.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Democracy and dictatorship of the proletariat are two parts of the same antithesis, and proletarian democracy is far superior to its capitalist counterpart. We are emphasizing the Four Principles that we must adhere to: the principle of socialism, the principle of dictatorship of the proletariat, the principle of Marxism and Leninism elaborated in Mao Zedong Thought, and the principle of leaders supported by the Communist Party of China. So, you see, that even the principle of dictatorship of the proletariat has remained untouched and untouchable.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“China is poor and our military is backwards, I agree. But we have our traditions, you know. And for quite some time, using inadequate and miserable equipment, we have cultivated the art of defeating well-armed enemies. Our territory is extremely vast, and in this vast territory the people have learned the necessary resistance for a long war — to bend the strength of others through their weaknesses. Whoever wants to invade China should remember this truth, and I believe that the Soviets remember it well.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Hmm… listen, I have made mistakes — yes, sometimes serious ones. But I never made them with bad intentions; I always made them with good intentions. My conscience is clear about my own life. Hmm… listen, I think I could give myself fifty percent. Yes, fifty percent would be all right.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The key to the four modernizations is the modernization of science and technology. Without modern science and technology, it is impossible to build modern agriculture, modern industry or modern national defence. Without the rapid development of science and technology, there can be no rapid development of the economy. The Central Committee of the Party decided to call this national science conference in order to bring home to the Party and country the importance of science, to map out a programme, to commend advanced units and individuals and to discuss measures for speeding up the development of science and technology in China.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In societies under the rule of exploiting classes, there are various kinds of mental workers. Some are wholly in the service of the reactionary ruling classes and thus stand in an antagonistic relationship to manual workers. But even in such a situation, as Lenin said, many of the intellectuals engaged in scientific and technical work are themselves not capitalists but scholars, even though they are filled with bourgeois prejudices. The fruits of their work are used by the exploiters, but in general this is determined by the social system and not by their own free choice. They are totally different from those politicians who rack their brains for expedients of direct service to the reactionary ruling classes.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We must give full play to democracy and follow the mass line, trusting the judgement of the scientists and technicians in such matters as the evaluation of scientific papers, the assessment of the competence of professional personnel, the elaboration of plans for scientific research and the evaluation of research results. When views diverge on scholarly questions, we must follow the policy of “letting a hundred schools of thought contend” and encourage free discussion. In scientific and technical work, we must listen closely to the opinions of the experts and leave them free to use all their skills and talents so as to achieve better results and reduce our errors to the minimum.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“According to Marx, socialism, which is the first stage of Communism, covers a very long period. And, during this period, we will try to fulfill the principle “From each according to his ability, to each according to his work.” In other words, we will blend the interests of the individual with the interests of the country. There is no other way to mobilize interest in production among the masses, let’s admit it. And since the capitalist West will be helping us to overcome the backwardness we find ourselves in — the poverty that afflicts us — it doesn’t seem opportune to get caught up in the subtleties. However things go, the positive effects will be greater than the negative effects.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“War is inevitable because superpowers exists and because imperialism exists. And we are not the only ones who think this way; in every part of the world today, many people are convinced that war will break out in the 1980s. The next ten years will be very, very dangerous. They’re terrifying. We should never forget this, because this is the only way we will prevent war from breaking out immediately; this is the only way we can defer it. Not by chatting about peace and detente. Westerners have been talking about peace and detente since the end of the Second World War. So has the Soviet Union. But where is this peace, where is this detente? Year to year, if not day to day, the hot spots are growing; the factors that will lead to World War Three are increasing; and still they talk about detente and peace.”
Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) said by 1997 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source