unjust causes find little support; lose moral backing
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
one who abandons justice will have few supporters; to act unjustly and find oneself isolated
formalDerived from Mencius (《孟子•公孙丑下》): '得道者多助，失道者寡助' (Those who have the Way have many helpers; those who lose the Way have few helpers). Used in formal or literary contexts to describe political, moral, or social isolation resulting from unjust actions. Often contrasted with 得道多助.
Shī失
dào道
guǎ寡
zhù助
，
nà那
xiē些
dào倒
xíng行
nì逆
shī施
de的
tǒng统
zhì治
zhě者
zuì最
zhōng终
dōu都
bèi被
rén人
mín民
suǒ所
pāo抛
qì弃
。
Those who lose moral support will be abandoned by the people, and those rulers who went against the tide were ultimately overthrown.
Lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
wú无
shù数
shì事
shí实
zhèng证
míng明
：
Dé得
dào道
duō多
zhù助
，
shī失
dào道
guǎ寡
zhù助
。
Countless historical facts have proven: those who possess justice enjoy abundant support, while those who abandon it find themselves isolated.
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Qīn侵
lüè略
zhàn战
zhēng争
cóng从
lái来
dōu都
shì是
shī失
dào道
guǎ寡
zhù助
de的
。
Wars of aggression have always lacked moral support.