只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈 zhǐ xǔ zhōu guān fàng huǒ ， bù xǔ bǎi xìng diǎn dēng

DEFINITIONS

  1. only the official is allowed to light the fire
  2. Gods may do what cattle may not
  3. quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi

CHARACTERS

只 zhǐ
HSK 3
only, just, simply
許 xǔ allow, permit; promise; betroth
州 zhōu
HSK 6
administrative division, state
官 guān
HSK 5
official, public servant
放 fàng
HSK 3
put, release, free, liberate
火 huǒ
HSK 2
fire, flame; burn; anger, rage
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
許 xǔ allow, permit; promise; betroth
百 bǎi
HSK 2
one hundred; numerous, many
姓 xìng
HSK 2
one's family name; clan, people
點 diǎn dot, speck, spot; point, degree
燈 dēng lantern, lamp