2006年3月4日，中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席胡锦涛在全国政协民盟民进联组会上发表讲话，强调要引导广大干部群众特别是青少年树立以“八荣八耻”为主要内容的社会主义荣辱观。“八荣八耻”的具体内容是：

以热爱祖国为荣、以危害祖国为耻，                                         

honor to those who love the motherland, and shame on those who harm the motherland;

以服务人民为荣、以背离人民为耻，                                          

honor to those who serve the people, and shame on those who betray the people;

以崇尚科学为荣、以愚昧无知为耻，                                          

honor to those who quest for science, and shame on those who refuse to be educated;

以辛勤劳动为荣、以好逸恶劳为耻，                                          

honor to those who are hardworking, and shame on those who indulge in comfort and hate work;

以团结互助为荣、以损人利己为耻，                                          

honor to those who help each other, and shame on those who seek gains at the expense of others;

以诚实守信为荣、以见利忘义为耻，                                          

honor to those who are trustworthy, and shame on those who trade integrity for profits; 

以遵纪守法为荣、以违法乱纪为耻，                                          

honor to those who abide by law and discipline, and shame on those who break laws and disciplines;

以艰苦奋斗为荣、以骄奢淫逸为耻。                                          

honor to those who uphold plain living and hard struggle, and shame on those who wallow in extravagance and pleasures.