Seeking Truth from Facts

One of the three basic aspects of the living soul of Mao Zedong Thought.

Seeking truth from facts means proceeding from reality and combining theory with practice; that is, integrating the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete practice of the China's revolution, construction and reform.

The phrase "seeking truth from facts" was first written in the book of Han (Dynasty)-Biography of King Liu De: “Described him as being fond studying old classic works and sought truth from facts.”

Mao Zedong gave it a new content in his report on "Reform Our Study" on May 19, 1941, and made a complete summary and elaboration of the Marxist ideological line of seeking truth from facts. Mao Zedong pointed out that “‘facts’ are all the things that exist objectively, ‘truth’ means their internal relations, that is, the laws governing them, and ‘to seek’ means to study.”

We should proceed from the actual conditions at home and abroad, as well as within and outside province, county or district, and draw out the development laws which are inherent in them, which are not subjective and imaginary, as our guide to action.

Seeking truth from facts is the manifestation of Party spirit, the Marxist-Leninist style of uniting theory and practice.

The establishment of the ideological line of seeking truth from facts by the CPC is the inevitable requirement and result of adhering to the correct political line. Only by adhering to the ideological line of seeking truth from facts can we formulate and implement the correct political line.

On the eve of the Rectification Movement in Yan’an, the CPC affirmed and warned the Party that subjectivism with dogmatism as its main manifestation is a formidable enemy of the Party, and established the ideological line of seeking truth from facts.

Before and after the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee in 1978, Deng Xiaoping led the whole Party to resume and develop the ideological line of seeking truth from facts.

Seeking truth from facts is the fundamental requirement for the Chinese Communists for knowing and changing the world, and is also the Party's basic ideological, working and leadership methods.

In order to persist in seeking truth from facts, we must have a thorough understanding of the original appearance of things, proceed from the laws of the existence and development of objective things and act in accordance with the objective laws in practice; we must understand and grasp the basic national conditions of our country, which is still in and will remain in the primary stage of socialism for a long time; and we must persist in upholding the truth for the benefit of the people to correct mistakes, we must constantly promote theoretical innovation based on practice. Marxist dialectical materialism and historical materialism are the philosophical worldview foundation of seeking truth from facts; on the other hand, adhering to the leadership and working methods of the mass line and conducting investigation and research are the basic methods and practical ways to achieve seeking truth from facts.