Being true in word and resolute in deed

Being true in word and resolute in deed

This idiom originates in The Analects of Confucius. It advocates keeping one's promise and being resolute in one's actions. The Confucian school held that a ruler must keep his word and win the trust of the people, and only in this way can he win the support of the people and have the people tell the truth.

When we use this phrase today, we often emphasize integrity and the importance of honoring our promise and seeing it through.

At the Seventh Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in January 2017, Xi Jinping said: Our Chinese ancestors have many sayings that encourage good faith and benevolent conduct, citing this one as an example. He pointed out that these helpful thoughts and ideas should be carried on under the current conditions, to preserve Chinese values and character in conduct and work.

言必信，行必果

“言必信，行必果”，出自《论语》，意为说话一定要有诚信，做事一定要有成效。儒家认为，统治者要言而有信、取信于民，只有这样才能得到百姓拥戴，也只有这样百姓才能敢于说出真话。后世在运用这一术语时，多强调一个人应该讲求诚信、做事有始有终，不仅要兑现承诺而且要言行一致。

2017年1月，习近平在中国共产党第十八届中央纪律检查委员会第七次全体会议上的讲话中强调，我们的先人们有大量劝导人们向上向善的警句名言，如“言必信，行必果”等，这些有益的思想观点，要结合时代条件加以继承和发扬，以坚守中国人的价值观，保持做人干事的精神风骨。