"He who repeatedly commits injustice will surely bring about his own destruction" originates from the Zuo Zhuan, Duke Yin, First Year, recording Duke Zhuang of Zheng's comment on his younger brother Gongshu Duan's continuous expansion of power and conspiratorial ambitions. Its literal meaning is: one who commits too many misdeeds will inevitably bring about their own downfall. The deeper implication emphasizes that when evil deeds accumulate to a certain extent, they inevitably lead to self-destruction, embodying a simple sense of justice based on karmic retribution. It is mostly used in scenarios of warning or admonition, describing those who act recklessly and defy morality ultimately reaping what they sow, and can also be used to comment on negative figures in history or reality. In terms of cultural background, this idiom aligns with the Confucian idea that "accumulated goodness brings surplus blessings, accumulated evil brings lingering calamity," reflecting traditional society's maintenance of moral order. Its emotional tone leans toward the pejorative, carrying a strong sense of criticism and warning, yet also revealing a belief that justice will ultimately prevail.
📝 Example
1. Those corrupt officials who took bribes eventually ended up in prison—truly, "He who commits many injustices will surely bring about his own downfall." (Meaning: Those who do evil repeatedly will ultimately destroy themselves.)
2. He had long bullied his neighbors, and now he is deserted by his followers and estranged from his relatives—just as the old saying goes, "He who commits many injustices will surely bring about his own downfall." (Meaning: Those who commit every kind of evil will inevitably come to no good end.)