得道多助，失道寡助

Chinese

A just cause attracts much support. An unjust cause attracts little support.
trad. (得道多助，失道寡助) 得道多助 ， 失道寡助
simp. #(得道多助，失道寡助) 得道多助 ， 失道寡助

Etymology

From Mencius (《孟子·公孫丑下》):

得道者多助，失道者寡助。寡助之至，親戚畔之；多助之至，天下順之。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
得道者多助，失道者寡助。寡助之至，亲戚畔之；多助之至，天下顺之。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Dédào zhě duōzhù, shīdào zhě guǎzhù. Guǎzhù zhī zhì, qīnqī pàn zhī; duōzhù zhī zhì, tiānxià shùn zhī. [Pinyin]
He who finds the proper course has many to assist him. He who loses the proper course has few to assist him. When this - the being assisted by few - reaches its extreme point, his own relations revolt from the prince. When the being assisted by many reaches its highest point, the whole kingdom becomes obedient to the prince.

Pronunciation

  • Mandarin
    (Pinyin): dédàoduōzhù, shīdàoguǎzhù
    (Zhuyin): ㄉㄜˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ㄓㄨˋ , ㄕ ㄉㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄚˇ ㄓㄨˋ
  • Cantonese (Jyutping): dak1 dou6 do1 zo6, sat1 dou6 gwaa2 zo6

Proverb

得道多助，失道寡助

  1. a just cause attracts abundant support while an unjust cause finds little support
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