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It doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, so long as it catches mice.
Deng Xiaoping
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The effectiveness of an action is more important than the means used to achieve it.

This quote from Deng Xiaoping emphasizes pragmatism and the importance of results over ideology. It suggests that what truly matters is the outcome of one's actions, regardless of the methods or appearances involved, urging a focus on practicality and effectiveness in problem-solving.

Themes

PragmatismResultsEffectivenessBlack And WhiteIdeology

In practice

Example use cases

During a business meeting to discuss productivity strategies, this quote could be used to emphasize the importance of results over rigid procedures.

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Poverty is not socialism. To be rich is glorious.
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China is not a superpower, nor will she ever seek to be one... If one day China should change her color and turn into a superpower, if she too should play the tyrant in the world, and everywhere subject others to her bullying, aggression and exploitation, the people of the world should identify her as social-imperialist, expose it, oppose it and work together with the Chinese people to overthrow it.
Deng XiaopingRead

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