The ocean is vast because it admits all rivers.

This is a motto of Lin Zexu (1785-1850), an official of the Qing Dynasty well-known for his efforts to ban imported opium. It encourages people to be open-minded, generous and tolerant, just like the vast ocean that admits all rivers. This reflects the moral sense of adjusting relations between oneself and other people to achieve social harmony, while recognizing and respecting individual and social differences. But it is not simply tolerance or compromise without principle. It reminds people, officials in particular, to be open to diverse opinions and treat all things kindly, like an ocean that embraces big rivers and small streams. This will help one shape a generous character and achieve great success.

In his speech at the UN Office at Geneva in January 2017, Xi Jinping said: The ocean is vast because it admits all rivers. He emphasized that the international community should advance democracy in international relations and reject dominance by just one or several countries. All countries should jointly shape the future of the world, write international rules, manage global affairs, and ensure that development outcomes are shared by all. 

海納百川，有容乃大

“海納百川，有容乃大”出自民族英雄林則徐的一副自勉聯，意為要擁有像大海能容納無數江河水一樣寬廣遼闊的胸襟和大氣包容的品性。這一理念是在承認并尊重個體及社會差異基礎上調處自我與他人關系、尋求社會和諧的一種道德自覺，但又不是故意縱容或作無原則的妥協。其提醒人們立身行事尤其是為官理政，要心胸開闊，善于聽取各種意見，寬和對待不同事物，就像大海接納無數江河細流一樣，唯有如此才能養成偉大的品格，成就偉大的事業。

2017年1月，習近平在聯合國日內瓦總部的演講中引用“海納百川，有容乃大”，強調國際社會要推進國際關系民主化，不能搞“一國獨霸”或“幾方共治”。世界命運應該由各國共同掌握，國際規則應該由各國共同書寫，全球事務應該由各國共同治理，發展成果應該由各國共同分享。