只许州官放火,不许百姓点灯 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 only, just, simply
许 xǔ allow, permit; promise; betroth
州 zhōu administrative division, state
官 guān official, public servant
放 fàng put, release, free, liberate
火 huǒ fire, flame; burn; anger, rage
不 bù no, not; un-; negative prefix
许 xǔ allow, permit; promise; betroth
百 bǎi one hundred; numerous, many
姓 xìng one's family name; clan, people
点 diǎn dot, speck, spot; point, degree
灯 dēng lantern, lamp