In 2016, the Communist Party’s Several Norms on Political Life Within the Party listed rules for its organizational life. One of them reads: “Uphold the system of heart-to-heart talks.” (坚持谈心谈话制度)
“Members of leading groups among themselves, members of leading groups and Party members, and Party members among themselves should hold regular heart-to-heart talks, meet each other frankly, share their thoughts and exchange views.”
In the first chapter of the Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government, Sima Guang explains the fall of the Zhi clan. Zhi Xuanzi chose Zhi Yao as his heir, and the clan was destroyed. “Zhi Bo perished because his talent exceeded his virtue.”
Sima Guang then sorts people into four kinds. “One complete in talent and virtue is a sage. One lacking both is a fool. One whose virtue exceeds his talent is a gentleman. One whose talent exceeds his virtue is a petty man.” If no sage or gentleman can be found, “it is better to get a fool than a petty man.”
逢人且说三分话，未可全抛一片心 When meeting people, say only three tenths of what is on the mind. Do not throw out the whole heart. (Words to Broaden Wisdom, a collection of old sayings)
酒逢知己千杯少，话不投机半句多 With a close friend, a thousand cups of wine are too few. When the talk does not suit, half a sentence is too many.
德才兼备 Having both virtue and ability. The 2019 regulations on appointing Party and government leaders name the principle decai jianbei, yi de wei xian: both virtue and ability, with virtue first.
德艺双馨 Virtue and art both fragrant. Said mostly of artists, whose character and art both have a good name. A dictionary example: “Mei Lanfang was truly an artist of both virtue and art.”
见外 To see as outside. To treat someone not as a close person but with the politeness shown to a stranger. A dictionary example reads: 我一向把心腹待你，你不要见外. “I have always treated you as a confidant. Do not treat me as an outsider.”
交心 To exchange hearts. To say what is on one’s mind without holding anything back.
心里话 Words from inside the heart. One’s innermost thoughts and feelings.
In 134 BC, on the advice of Dong Zhongshu, Emperor Wu of Han ordered each commandery and kingdom to recommend one filial man and one incorrupt man every year. The recommendation soon became known as ju xiaolian, recommending the filial and incorrupt. Xiaolian means filial toward one’s elders, incorrupt and upright. It became the most important yearly route into office under the Han.
On September 7, 1937, Mao Zedong wrote a short text called Combat Liberalism (反对自由主义). It lists the kinds of liberal behavior inside the Party. The second is “irresponsible criticism behind people’s backs, instead of making suggestions to the organization.”
“Saying nothing to people’s faces, but talking wildly behind their backs. Saying nothing at the meeting, but talking wildly after it.” (当面不说，背后乱说；开会不说，会后乱说。)
On March 1, 2021, trial rules of the China Association of Performing Arts on the conduct of performers took effect. A performer who breaks them faces a joint boycott across the industry for one, three or five years, or for life.
To return to the stage, the performer must apply in the three months before the boycott ends, and may perform again only with approval.
The editorial office of Xinhua’s Reference News published 内部参考, Internal Reference. It carried reports written and translated especially for leaders, and it was meant only for senior cadres of the Party.
The historian Shen Zhihua describes their content: “The important domestic and international news they report is generally not printed in the public newspapers, not even in Reference News.”
In Da yi jing cheng, On the Absolute Sincerity of Great Physicians, the Tang physician Sun Simiao sets out two demands. A physician must “study medicine to its source and be diligent without tiring.” And “whenever a great physician treats an illness, he must calm his spirit and settle his will, want nothing and seek nothing, and first feel great compassion.”
China Youth Daily explains the two words of the title. Jing is superb medical skill. Cheng is the wholehearted wish to save lives.