Great truths are always simple.
This phrase is a summary of similar expressions from the Classic of the Way and Virtue and The Analects of Confucius. It means that great truths are often so simple that they can be explained in one or two sentences. In the Chinese philosophy, dao (literally, the Way) is an important idea, and da dao refers to the general laws of nature and society and the basic principles that people follow in dealing with nature and in managing society.
This idea has been applied in state governance and social management. It has two meanings: One, the more general and basic the principle is, the simpler and easier it is for people to understand and apply. Two, da dao is not isolated from the human world. Rather, it is embodied in daily affairs, and people can discern the essence of a matter and the relevant governing laws by looking below superficial phenomena and seeking root causes.
In his speech at the UN Office at Geneva in January 2017, Xi Jinping said: Great truths could be realized only through actions. Actions hold the key to building a global community of shared future. To achieve this goal, the international community should promote partnership, security, growth, inter-civilization exchanges, and the building of sound ecosystems.
大道至简
“大道至简”是从《道德经》和《论语》的名句中凝炼而成的，意为大道理（基本原理、方法和规律）是极其简单的，简单到一两句话就能说明白。“道”在中国哲学中，是一个重要的概念，“大道”即自然、社会的普遍法则以及人们对待自然、治理社会的根本原则；“简”即浅易、简明、便利。这一观念被广泛用于治国理政及社会管理等方面，主要有两层含义：其一，越普遍、越根本的道理就应该越简明浅易，便于人们掌握并付诸实施；其二，“大道”并不是远离人世间的高高在上的原理，相反，它的道理、功用就蕴含在人们的伦常日用之中，只要透过纷繁的表层现象，寻流讨源，就可以抓住事物的本质和规律，以简驭繁。
2017年1月，习近平在联合国日内瓦总部的演讲中引用“大道至简，实干为要”，指出构建人类命运共同体关键在行动，国际社会要从伙伴关系、安全格局、经济发展、文明交流、生态建设等方面作出努力。
