Bái māo, hēi māo, néng dǎi hàozi jiùshi hǎo māo.

白貓, 黑貓, 能逮耗子就是好貓。

Lit [It doesn't matter if a] cat [is] black or white, [as long as it] can catch mice, it's a good cat.

Fig One's ideological persuasion is not important, as long as one can get the job done.

Note [Attributed to Deng Xiaoping as an example of his pragmatic policies, for which he was criticized during the Cultural Revolution; see also bùguǎn hēi māo below.]

Topics black cat, white cat Cultural Revolution Deng Xiaoping IDEOLOGY MEANS PRAGMATISM SUCCESS