諺語 · a single proverb
得道多助，失道寡助
What does 得道多助，失道寡助 (dé dào duō zhù shī dào guǎ zhù) mean?
得道多助，失道寡助 (dé dào duō zhù shī dào guǎ zhù) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "gain the way, many help; lose the way, few help." In use it means: Those who act rightly gain many allies; those who act wrongly stand alone. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Wood note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Tiger.
Literally: "gain the way, many help; lose the way, few help."
The reading
Righteousness is not a performance but a field that draws others toward it like warmth draws people from the cold. The leader who acts in accord with what is true finds support appearing where none was visible before. Those who act against it discover that loyalty cannot be purchased, only earned.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Mencius 孟子·公孫丑下 (Gōng Sūn Chǒu II)
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Harmony, Virtue & Balance, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Tiger, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 得道多助，失道寡助 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 得道多助，失道寡助 (dé dào duō zhù shī dào guǎ zhù) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Mencius 孟子·公孫丑下 (Gōng Sūn Chǒu II). It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 得道多助，失道寡助?
In Mandarin it is dé dào duō zhù shī dào guǎ zhù. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 得道多助，失道寡助 aloud in Mandarin.