On this day, 107 years ago, on July 20, 1918 (the 13th of the sixth lunar month), Hu Shi published "Study More Questions and Talk Less about Doctrine."

On July 20, 1918, Hu Shi published the article "Study More Questions and Talk Less about" Doctrine "in the Weekly Review No. 31. The article said: The great danger for public opinion now is to deviate from the theory on paper and not conduct on-the-spot investigation of what China's social needs are today.

First, it is extremely easy to talk about "ism" and it is something that even cats, dogs, and parrots and gramophones can do.

Second, it is useless to talk about the "doctrine" of foreign imports. Everything is a way to relieve the needs of society at that time and place by caring people at a certain time and place. If we don't study our current social needs on the spot, we can only talk about so-and-so doctrine. It is like a doctor who only remembers a lot of tricks and doesn't study the patient's symptoms. How can it be useful?

Third, it is very dangerous to deviate from the "doctrine" on paper. This mantra can easily be used by shameless politicians to do various harmful things. Now China's politicians are going to use some kind of doctrine to deceive people. Mrs. Roland said,"Freedom! Freedom! Many crimes in the world are committed in your name!" All good-sounding doctrines carry this danger.

Why do so many people talk about socialism? Why are there so few people studying problems? This is all due to the word laziness. The definition of laziness is avoiding difficulties and avoiding difficulties. Studying problems is extremely difficult, and talking highly is extremely easy.

There are really many problems that China should solve quickly now. From the livelihood of rickshaw drivers to the authority of the president, from prostitution to selling officials and betraying the country, from the dissolution of the Anfu Department to joining the League of Nations, from the issue of women's liberation to the issue of men's liberation... which one is not a burning urgent issue?

We don't study the livelihood of rickshaw drivers, but talk about socialism! Instead of studying how to liberate women and how to save the family system, we talk about public wife and free love! Instead of studying how to dissolve the Anfu Department or how to solve the North-South issue, we talk highly about anarchism! We must also boast proudly,"What we are talking about is a fundamental solution." To be honest, this is a dream talk to oneself and oneself! This is ironclad evidence that China's ideological community is bankrupt! This is the death penalty for social reform in China!

Comment: A rare free era in China when thoughts were liberalized