盖廊庙建筑所用的木材，不是一棵树上的枝干能完全提供的。
因为，一棵大树虽然高大，但是它的枝干不够粗壮，不能支撑起整个建筑物。
同样的，用狐狸腋下白毛皮所制成的暖和轻柔的裘，也不是一只狐狸腋下的白毛皮所能完全供应的。
因为，一只狐狸腋下的白毛皮数量有限，无法制作出足够的裘衣。
一个国家的治乱安危，存亡荣辱，也不是靠国君一个人的能力就能承担。
因为，治理国家需要处理的事情太多太复杂，一个人的力量是远远不够的。
所以，必须凭借众多朝臣同心合力才能做到。
这是在《慎子·知忠》中记载所用的这样一个比喻。
有很多事情，因过于繁重庞杂，往往一个人是无法完成，而是需要集众人之力才能完成。
这就像想撑起任何东西，单用一根木头是无法做到，而要多用几根木头才能撑起来。
这就是“独木难支”的意义。
后来，就从这里演变出“独木难支”这句成语，用来比喻个人的力量，无法支撑全局。
The timber used for constructing palaces and temples cannot be supplied by the branches of just one tree.
This is because, although a large tree may be tall, its branches are not strong enough to support an entire building.
Similarly, the warm and soft fur coat made from the white fur under a fox's armpit cannot be fully supplied by the white fur under just one fox's armpit.
This is because the amount of white fur under a fox's armpit is limited and cannot produce enough fur coats.
The peace and security, rise and fall, and honor and disgrace of a country cannot be shouldered by the power of a single ruler alone.
This is because governing a country involves too many complex issues that cannot be handled by the power of one person alone.
Therefore, it must rely on the concerted efforts of numerous ministers.
This is an analogy recorded in 'Shenzi·Zhi Zhong'.
There are many things that are too heavy and complex for one person to complete, and often require the joint efforts of many people to complete.
It's like trying to prop up something. A single piece of wood cannot do it, but several pieces of wood can.
This is the meaning of 'a single tree cannot support a building'.
Later, this evolved into the idiom 'a single tree cannot support a building', which比喻 the power of an individual cannot support the overall situation.
