One is unyielding when one has no private desire.
This idiom is based on Confucius' observation on Shen Cheng, one of his 72 major disciples. As recorded in Lun Yu (The Analects of Confucius), the Master (Confucius) said, "I have never met anyone who is truly unyielding." Someone replied that Shen Cheng was such a person. But the Master said, "He is driven by desires. How can he be unyielding?" This indicates that if one has too many desires, one cannot remain firm, upright and honest.
The idiom is about the importance of restraining oneself. It is particularly true with the officials. They will remain upright and fearless if they can resist temptations and inducements, remain selfless, and be free of irrational desires.
Addressing the meeting commemorating the 120th anniversary of the birth of Premier Zhou Enlai (1898-1976), held in March 2018, Xi Jinping quoted the Chinese saying: "The ocean is vast because it admits all rivers. The mountain peaks erect hundreds of feet high, because they are free from any worldly bond." He hailed the former premier as an outstanding role model who was strict with himself, led a simple life, and exercised lifelong dedication with no expectation of recompense. The premier had exhorted the leading officials to stand the tests of their conviction, political integrity, social connections, relatives and daily conduct, and observe the political norms and fine conduct of Chinese Communists.
無欲則剛
“無欲則剛” 出自《論語》中孔子對弟子的評價：“子曰：‘吾未見剛者。’或對曰：‘申棖。’子曰：‘棖也欲，焉得剛？’”人的欲望太盛，便難有堅定剛強之德，難以剛正不阿、正道直行。“欲”指各種私欲、貪欲；“剛”即剛正公道、正直有力。“無欲則剛” 是一種克己的功夫，講的是立身處事尤其是執政做官的基本道理：一個人面對來自各方的種種誘惑，應該大公無私、端正品性、淡泊守志，不要有非分的貪圖，這樣就能一身正氣，無所畏懼。
2018年3月，習近平在紀念周恩來同志誕辰120周年座談會上指出，“海納百川，有容乃大；壁立千仞，無欲則剛”。周恩來同志就是這樣的人，他畢生嚴于律己、艱苦樸素，只求奉獻、不思回報，并且告誡領導干部要過好思想關、政治關、社會關、親屬關、生活關，保持共產黨人的政治操守和優良作風。
