Socialist discipline is formed and developed under socialist conditions, and it is a reflection of the will and interests of the working class and the people. Socialist discipline is essentially different from that of all exploiting classes and has its own unique characteristics.
The essence of socialist discipline is different from that of all exploiting class disciplines. Under the exploitation system, all exploiting classes must force the exploited class to carry out activities according to their own will in order to maintain their political rule and obtain their own economic interests, and it is inevitable to formulate disciplines that conform to their own will and interests. Slave owners and feudal landlords forced slaves and peasants to work and obey the rule with whips and sticks. The discipline they formulated was "stick discipline". Capitalists put the invisible rope of "hunger" around workers' necks, forcing them to sell their labor. Capitalists make "hunger discipline". In short, all the disciplines of the exploiting class are based on the private ownership of the means of production, safeguard the interests of the minority, and take the unequal relationship between people as the premise, which is a cruel means to exploit and oppress the working people.
Under the socialist system, the working people are the masters of the country. Socialist discipline is based on the public ownership of the means of production and the equal relationship between people. Socialist discipline safeguards the interests of the overwhelming majority of the people, which is the fundamental guarantee for the cause of socialist modernization and for the people to create a better life.
The most important feature of socialist discipline is consciousness, so socialist discipline is also called conscious discipline. The conscious expression of socialist discipline has two aspects. First, the formulation of socialist discipline is voluntary. Socialist discipline is a reflection of the will and interests of the working class and the people. The purpose of formulating socialist discipline is to protect the national and collective interests of socialism, and also to protect the legitimate personal interests of the people. The consistency between socialist discipline and people's interests makes the formulation of socialist discipline come from the inherent requirements of the people, and the people impose it voluntarily rather than externally. Because of this, socialist discipline is the people's own discipline and the most powerful iron discipline. Second, the implementation of socialist discipline is positive. Implementing socialist discipline is conducive to safeguarding the interests of socialist countries and collectives and the legitimate personal interests of the people. The consistency between the implementation of socialist discipline and the realization of people's interests makes the implementation of socialist discipline come from people's internal requirements, and people can voluntarily implement it instead of relying on external forces. Because of this, socialist discipline is the most powerful iron discipline. Once, Lenin went to a place for a meeting. Go to the door of the venue and be stopped by the doorman to check the documents. A man with a moustache came up from behind and said to the guard, "This is Comrade Lenin, let him in quickly!" " "The guard replied," I have never met Comrade Lenin. Besides, whoever it is, check it out. This is discipline. " Lenin showed his certificate. When the guard saw Lenin, he immediately saluted and said, "Excuse me, Comrade Lenin, please come into the meeting!" " "Lenin held the guard's hand and said," Each of us must abide by the revolutionary laws and regulations. Comrade guard, you did your duty and did the right thing. Lenin's conscious behavior of observing discipline and the meticulous spirit of the guards fully reflected the high consciousness of socialist discipline.