Studying extensively, questioning earnestly, thinking profoundly, discriminating clearly, and practicing assiduously

Studying extensively, questioning earnestly, thinking profoundly, discriminating clearly, and practicing assiduously

This is a quotation from The Doctrine of the Mean, indicating a correct approach to scholarly pursuits. One should first of all study extensively, then raise questions about a particular issue and think it over seriously, which may help discriminate between right and wrong. Then one needs to apply what one has learned in practice. These are the five progressive steps of the whole process from study to action.

Xi Jinping cited this quotation at the celebration assembly of the 80th anniversary of the Central Party School and the opening of its 2013 spring semester in March 2013. He said: Busy work schedules can never be an excuse for slackening the study, and the officials should be punctilious in making time for study.

博学之，审问之，慎思之，明辨之，笃行之

“博学之，审问之，慎思之，明辨之，笃行之”，出自《中庸》。博学，就是广泛地学习；审问，就是仔细地询问，有针对性地提问请教；慎思，就是努力地、谨慎地思考；明辨，就是清楚地分辨；笃行，就是用学习得来的知识和形成的思想指导实践。这句话明确了从“学”到“行”这个过程里的五个阶段，也是循序递进的五个层次。

2013年3月，习近平在中央党校建校80周年庆祝大会暨2013年春季学期开学典礼上的讲话中引用“博学之，审问之，慎思之，明辨之，笃行之”，强调工作太忙绝不是放松学习的理由，学习要善于挤时间并且高效率地运用时间。