This type of debate topic can easily make people fall into the misunderstanding of bipolar thinking: affirming that "the greatness of man lies in thought" means denying that "the greatness of man lies in action"; and vice versa. In fact, some people's greatness lies in their thoughts, or they are great because of their thoughts; some people's greatness lies in their actions, or they are great because of their actions; some people's greatness lies in both their thoughts and their actions.

1. Clear concepts

1. A person can be either a human being (general) or an individual (individual). You can talk about the greatness of mankind as a whole, or you can talk about the greatness of a certain individual.

2. Greatness may correspond to different concepts, forming a series of evaluation levels:

Greatness - Ordinary - Mediocre - Small

Generally speaking , greatness refers to: ① high moral character, outstanding talents and knowledge, which is admirable and respected (the greatness of a great man); ② having a high position and being famous for generations, which is admirable and passed down (the greatness of ideas); ③ hardship, great achievements, and lasting benefits, which is touching and follow (the greatness of the cause); ④ It is majestic and large-scale, which makes people yearn for and admire (the greatness of engineering or architecture, the great Dujiangyan, the Pyramid); etc.

3. Thoughts are the result of thinking. Thinking is the process of rational understanding, and thinking is rational understanding.

4. Action is a specific activity carried out to achieve a certain purpose. Action can refer to practice in a broad sense - various activities in which people purposefully explore and transform the objective world. It can also refer to practice in a narrow sense - material activities in which people purposefully transform the objective world.

2. About the greatness of human beings

1. Some philosophers emphasize that the greatness of human beings lies in thought

The 17th-century French philosopher Pascal's book "Human Being" "The Thinking Reed" is one of the three classics of modern European philosophical prose. It has been translated into almost all languages ??for hundreds of years and has been sold well all over the world. The book writes: "Thoughts form human greatness and are where all human dignity lies."

2. Marxists seem to emphasize that human greatness lies in action (practice)

His famous quote is engraved on Marx's monument in Highgate Cemetery in London: "Philosophers only interpret the world in different ways, and the point is to change the world." MNX1-19

Marx in the Gotha Programme Critique" wrote: One step of practical action is worth a dozen programs.

3. Marxists actually emphasize that human greatness lies in both thought and action (practice)

Lenin reminded people to pay attention to the importance of thought in "What to Do": " Without revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary action."

Mao Zedong wrote: "Our conclusion is the concrete historical unity of subjectivity and objectivity, theory and practice, knowledge and action. All "left" or right erroneous ideas that are divorced from specific history." Great because of ideas;

For example, scientists such as Newton and Einstein did not make rockets and atomic bombs, but they created great scientific theories for mankind.

2. The greatness of some people lies in their actions, or they are great because of their actions;

For example, engineers such as Li Bing and Edison did not write masterpieces recording great ideas, but they contributed to Human beings have created great material wealth.

3. The greatness of some people lies both in their thoughts and in their actions.

For example, Marx, Engels, Lenin and Mao Zedong were both great thinkers and great revolutionaries.

4. Analysis of the significance of this issue in life

Marshal Chen Yi, who once served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, wrote: We are the biggest idealists in the world! We are the biggest activists in the world! We are the world's largest integrator of ideals and actions!

We must unify our thoughts (ideals) and actions (practices) in order to realize the value of life.