📖 Meaning
Those who act against morality and justice will inevitably find themselves with few allies or supporters. It describes the natural consequence of unjust behavior — losing the support of others.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from 'Mencius: Gongsun Chou II' (《孟子·公孙丑下》), written during the Warring States period by the Confucian philosopher Mencius. He observed that a ruler who governs with righteousness gains widespread support, while one who acts unjustly loses allies — to the point where even his own relatives will abandon him. The phrase was part of Mencius's broader argument that moral legitimacy is the foundation of political power.
💡 Example Usage
侵略他国的行为注定失道寡助，最终必然失败。
Acts of aggression against other nations are bound to lose moral support and ultimately fail.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 失道寡助
- Pinyin: shī dào guǎ zhù
- Literal Translation: lose, justice, few, help
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4