Chinese President Xi Jinping's quotes in a book

Chinese President Xi Jinping's latest book, Xi Jinping's Quotes, was published on Sunday in Beijing. The 13-chapter book is a compilation of 135 frequently used quotes by Xi on how to govern the country. The quotes have been interpreted in today's context.

Most of Xi's quotes come from Confucius classics, such as the Analects of Confucius, The Book of Rites, Mencius, Xunzi, and The Book of History. Other quotes are from ancient Chinese classics, such as Laozi, Hanfeizi and Mozi.

It seems the quotes from the greatest minds are not only a good reference to understand Xi's governing philosophy, but also help to comprehend the seemingly abstract "Four Comprehensives" recently put forward in People's Daily newspaper.

In charting China's future development, Xi said the Party would comprehensively build a moderately prosperous society, deepen reform, govern the country according to the law, and apply strictness in rulingthe party.

A quote from Zhang Juzheng, a central political reformer from China's Ming Dynasty(1368-1644), echoes similar sentiment in the book when his quote was used to address the central government's prudence and ambition in deepening reforms.

In a letter to a provincial governor, Zhang said: "To contemplate on the situations, and make careful consideration before making any movement, there is no such thing that couldn't be achieved." Correspondingly, Xi urges Party members to have a strategy before making a move, and to break free from stereotype thinking, which was formed by China's institutions and cemented by the pursuit of personal interests.

Another quote, from Laozi, the great thinker and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476), said: "The biggest sin results from insatiability, and the biggest disaster originates from endless desires." It was used by Xi at the 2008 CPC Central Committee's Party School opening ceremony, and is now a reminder for the party members to be wary of the danger of wants and desires.

"To be an honest man is not only an inner requirement of the party members, but also a moral discipline for the cadres," said Xi.

As for Xi himself, he said Sushi, a literateur and politician of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), is worthy of noting for his political wisdom.

Xi quotes Sushi several times, and praises Sushi's insights into governing a country highly. "The most dangerous situation for a country is when apparently everything seems fine, but there breeds hidden danger. If one only sit and watch, the situation would worsen and there would be no turning back," said Sushi.

It is hoped that this book of Xi, along with his "Four Comprehensives", would qualify Xi as "the designer of China's path to being a great power", as some scholars have said, and guide the party members to achieve the Chinese dream.