In such a big, populous and complicated country as ours, we the leaders must have an in-depth knowledge of the national conditions, and learn what the people think and what they want. We must act self-consciously and with the utmost care "as if we were treading on thin ice, and standing on the edge of an abyss." We must cultivate an attitude of "governing a big country is as delicate as frying a small fish," never slackening our efforts or being negligent in the slightest, and always devoting ourselves to work in the public interest.

Governing a Big Country Is as Delicate as Frying a Small Fish

The expression "governing a big country is as delicate as frying a small fish" comes from chapter 60 of Laozi's Dao De Jing:

"Governing a big country is as delicate as frying a small fish. When the empire is ruled in accordance with the way, the spirits lose their potencies. Or rather, it is not that they lose their potencies, but that, though they have their potencies, they do not harm the people. It is not only they who, having their potencies, do not harm people, the sage, also, does not harm the people. As neither does any harm, each attributes the merit to the other."

This well-known saying of Laozi (c.570-500 BC), Chinese ancient philosopher living in the late Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), has deeply influenced the minds of Chinese statesmen. Many scholars and statesmen have interpreted it differently throughout history. But whether the point of comparison in the Chinese text is to be rendered as "a small fish" or "delicacies," the gist is that governing a nation is like preparing food. A fish that is being pan-fried must not be carelessly flipped about. Seasoning must be carefully added to taste, and the heat source must be properly controlled. Otherwise, the fish may turn out mushy or charred, or too salty or bland. The same idea holds true for governing a nation. There is no room for political flip-flopping or acting hastily in order to gain political points. There is no room for slack or slop in carrying out one's responsibilities.

The saying "governing a big country is as delicate as frying a small fish" is a vivid depiction of the philosophy and spirit that one ought to embody when leading a nation. The fact that Xi Jinping quoted these words during a joint interview with the press of the BRICS countries is quite telling in terms of his philosophy of governance. In order to fry a fish properly, one must first become familiar with its features, and then he or she may add seasoning and adjust the heat accordingly. Governing a big country applies the same basic logic: One must first get in touch with a nation's conditions and the pulse of its people, and only then will it be possible to put the people first, respect the laws of development, achieve sound government, and govern the country in a scientific manner. Frying a small fish may be a menial task, but doing it well requires concentration. So much the more when it comes to governing a nation. Governance is a massively important task that involves the future of a nation and the fate of its people; as such, it calls for the strongest sense of historical mission and responsibility.

Laozi's fish-frying analogy gives expression to his philosophy of "governing by doing nothing." To be clear, this concept does not refer to a passive or laissez-faire approach to government; rather, it means following the natural course of things. A government ought to respect the laws of history, the natural social order, and the consensus of its people when making decisions. A country will not be able to grow strong and prosperous and its people will not be able to live a comfortable life if the government operates on whim and is carried about by every wind of policy with the desire of scoring political points. That is why Xi Jinping made it clear that "leaders must have an in-depth knowledge of the national conditions, and learn what the people think and what they want." That is the foundation of governing a nation.

There is evidence that suggests that, next to the Bible, Dao De Jing is the world's most translated and widely distributed classic to date. In Western countries, Laozi is widely regarded as the progenitor of free thought. As he wrote: "I do not force my way and the people transform themselves. I enjoy my serenity and the people correct themselves. I do not interfere and the people enrich themselves. I have no desires and the people find their original mind." Many of Laozi's one-liners have struck a chord with leaders from all over the world, including Ronald Reagan, whose State of the Union Address given in 1988 contained the quote "govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish," as well as Dmitry Medvedev, who recited "people will not be in danger if they stop where they should stop" at an international forum in 2010. Needless to say, the analogy that Xi Jinping used in his joint press interview represents a philosophy of governance that is well appreciated by the world at large.

This philosophy of governance bears the unique thumbprint of traditional Chinese culture. Indeed, the deep influence of traditional Chinese culture is evident in a whole host of Xi Jinping's philosophies of governance -- such as putting the people first, pursuing sound government and social harmony, holding persons of talent in high esteem, and building a resource-conserving society. Xi has quoted extensively from the Chinese classics, which has given China and the rest of the world an opportunity to notice and appreciate the inimitable charm of the traditional Chinese culture.

(An excerpt from XI JINPING: WIT AND VISION -- SELECTED QUOTATIONS AND COMMENTARY, published by FOREIGN LANGUAGES PRESS in 2015)