I'm looking at the Wikiquote page for Deng Xiaoping.
There's only a handful of quotes! Let's see how they aged.
There's only a handful of quotes! Let's see how they aged.
"It doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice." (1977)
Definitely a classic. Not much to say here.
Definitely a classic. Not much to say here.
"The United States brags about its political system, but the [American] President says one thing during the election, something else when he takes office, something else at midterm and something else when he leaves." (1987)
US "democracy" is such an embarrassment.
US "democracy" is such an embarrassment.
"A basic contradiction between socialism and the market economy does not exist." (1985)
Agreed.
Agreed.
"When our thousands of Chinese students abroad return home, you will see how China will transform itself."
Good bet.
Good bet.
"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"
On point.
"The very essence of socialism is the liberation and development of the productive systems"
On point.
"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."
"If you open a window for fresh air, you have to expect some flies to blow in."
Still on point.
"We should be concerned about right-wing deviations, but most of all, we must be concerned about left-wing deviations."
"If you open a window for fresh air, you have to expect some flies to blow in."
Still on point.
The rest are mis-attributions.
"To get rich is glorious!"
Deng is commonly quoted with this phrase in western media but there is no proof that he actually said it. 😄
"To get rich is glorious!"
Deng is commonly quoted with this phrase in western media but there is no proof that he actually said it. 😄
The phrase in Chinese is more accurately translated as "wealth is glorious," where wealth can have a very general meaning, including knowledge, personal relationships, family: anything of value.
Understood this way, the quote is not as directly controversial as a ideological/political statement, and so it is not hard to believe that he really did say this.
"One Country, Two systems."
Actually coined by Mao Zedong, popularized by Deng Xiaoping
Actually coined by Mao Zedong, popularized by Deng Xiaoping
"Let some people get rich first."
A summarization of several quotations from Deng Xiaoping, known in Chinese as 让一部分人先富起来.
A summarization of several quotations from Deng Xiaoping, known in Chinese as 让一部分人先富起来.
"Seek Truth from Facts."
A known classic before both Mao and Deng.
"Crossing the river by feeling the stones."
Not original, but popularized by Deng.
A known classic before both Mao and Deng.
"Crossing the river by feeling the stones."
Not original, but popularized by Deng.
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