失道寡助

Chinese

finding little support; paucity of support
trad. (失道寡助) 失道 寡助
simp. #(失道寡助) 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。 [Classical Chinese, 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。 [Classical Chinese, 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


Idiom

失道寡助

  1. An unjust cause attracts little support.

Antonyms

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