得道多助,失道寡助 – Chinese philosophy and culture

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dédào-duōzhù,shīdào-guǎzhù 得道多助,失道寡助

A Just Cause Enjoys Abundant Support While an Unjust Cause Finds Little Support.

奉行道义,支持的人就多;违背道义,支持的人就少。“道”即道义、正义。中国人自古推崇道义,认为道义是决定战争或事业成败的根本力量。只有奉行道义,才能赢得内部的团结一致、赢得民心,取得战争或事业的最后胜利;否则就将不得人心,从而陷入孤立无援的境地,归于失败。它是中华“德政”思想与“文明”精神的具体体现。

The Chinese phrase dedao (得道) or “obtaining Dao” here refers to having “a just cause.” Since ancient times Chinese people have had a high esteem for justice and have thought of justice as a decisive factor determining success or failure in war and other enterprises. Only by upholding justice can one achieve internal unity and popular support, which are essential for the success of a war or a cause; otherwise, popular support is lost and the ruler or leader becomes too isolated and helpless to succeed. This is a specific expression of the Chinese notion of “governance based on virtue” and the spirit of”civilization.”

引例 Citations:

◎域民不以封疆之界,固国不以山溪之险,威天下不以兵革之利。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。以天下之所顺,攻亲戚之所畔,故君子有不战,战必胜矣。(《孟子·公孙丑下》)

(使百姓定居下来不能依靠划定疆域的界限,保护国家不能依靠山河的险要,威慑天下不能依靠兵器的锐利。奉行道义,支持的人就多;违背道义,支持的人就少。支持的人少到了极致,连亲戚都背叛他。支持的人多到了极致,天下人都归顺他。凭借天下人都归顺的力量,攻打连亲戚都背叛的人,所以君子不战则已,战就一定取得胜利。)

The people are not confined by boundaries, the state is not secured by dangerous cliffs and streams, and the world is not overawed by sharp weapons. The one who has Dao enjoys abundant support while the one who has lost Dao finds little support. When lack of support reaches its extreme point, even a ruler’s own relatives will rebel against him. When abundant support reaches its extreme point, the whole world will follow him. If one whom the whole world follows attacks one whose own relatives rebel against him, the result is clear. Therefore, a man of virtue either does not go to war, or if he does, he is certain to win victory. (Mencius)

◎桀纣之失天下也,失其民也;失其民者,失其心也。得天下有道,得其民,斯得天下矣。得其民有道,得其心,斯得民矣。得其心有道,所欲与之聚之,所恶勿施尔也。(《孟子·离娄上》)

(桀和纣所以失去天下,是因为失去百姓;所谓失去百姓,就是失去了民心。得到天下有规律,得到百姓,就能得到天下。得到百姓有规律,得到民心,就能得到百姓。得到民心有规律,百姓想得到的,就替他们聚积起来;百姓所厌恶的,就不要施加于他们身上,如此罢了。)

Jie and Zhou lost all under heaven because they lost the people. They lost the people because they lost the people’s hearts. There is a way to win all under heaven: if you win the people, you win all under heaven. There is a way to win the people: if you win their hearts, you win the people. There is a way to win their hearts: amass for them what they desire, do not impose on them what they detest, and it is as simple as that. (Mencius)

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