得道者多助

Dé dào zhě duō zhù
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 one who has the Way gets much help
  2. 2 a just cause attracts many supporters
  3. 3 Mencius maxim on moral legitimacy and political support

Examples

HSK 7-9
Dédàozhěduōzhù, shīdàozhěguǎzhù - zhè shì qiāngǔ bú biàn de dàolǐ.
The righteous gain many allies, the unrighteous few - this is an unchanging truth.
HSK 7-9
Tā wéirén zhèngzhí, suǒyǐ dédàozhěduōzhù, wēinán shí péngyou dōu lái xiāngbāng.
He is upright, so the righteous gain many allies - when he was in trouble, friends all came to help.

Tips

history
From 孟子, Gongsun Chou II: 得道者多助,失道者寡助. Mencius argues that 人和 (popular support) outweighs 天时 (timing) and 地利 (terrain). It became a classic basis for the idea of winning or losing the people's hearts.
usage
Almost always used together with 失道者寡助. Here 道 means moral right and just cause, not 'road'. Common in international politics, team management, and life philosophy.

Stroke Order

得 de
道 dào
者 zhě
多 duō
助 zhù