This text is a sort of eulogy for Li Shenzhi (1923-2003), an establishment intellectual loyal to the Communist regime for much of his life, but whose revulsion following the Tian’anmen massacre led him to embrace liberalism and denounce the abuses of the Communist revolution in China. Subsequently, he became known as “China’s Havel,” and continues to be much admired for his courage and outspokenness. In this essay, however, Xu Jilin links Li Shenzhi to the moral idealism of China’s traditional Confucian scholar-officials, arguing that these values of service and commitment were more important than his conversion to liberalism. He praises Li as an “old-style Communist” and insists that devotion and sacrifice to a cause are positive values. This can be read as a critique of secularism—and hence of liberalism—and thus as a call to action. The essay, which is very different from others included in this volume, suggests that Xu continues to search for some sort of cultural continuity that will provide a moral basis to contemporary Chinese society, and that can coexist with liberal political institutions.