天下興亡，匹夫有責

Chinese
 
under heaven; the world; everything under the sky
under heaven; the world; everything under the sky; all under heaven
 to rise and fall
 
ordinary man; the common people; the masses
ordinary man; the common people; the masses; ordinary citizens
 
to have; there is; there are
to have; there is; there are; to exist; to be
 
duty; responsibility; to reproach
duty; responsibility; to reproach; to blame
trad. (天下興亡，匹夫有責) 天下 興亡 ， 匹夫 有 責
simp. (天下兴亡，匹夫有责) 天下 兴亡 ， 匹夫 有 责

Etymology

Paraphrase of a quote from Gu Yanwu.

保國者，其君其臣，肉食者謀之。保天下者，匹夫之賤與有責焉耳矣。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
保国者，其君其臣，肉食者谋之。保天下者，匹夫之贱与有责焉耳矣。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Gu Yanwu, Ri Zhi Lu, 1670 CE
Bǎo guó zhě, qí jūn qí chén, ròushízhě móu zhī. Bǎo tiānxià zhě, pǐfū zhī jiàn yǔ yǒu zé yān ěr yǐ. [Pinyin]
To preserve a regime, that is only for its ruler and ministers to be concerned about. To preserve a nation, even a lowly ordinary person bears responsibility.

Pronunciation

Proverb

天下興亡，匹夫有責

  1. whether a nation stands or falls depends on ordinary citizens
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