道高益安,势高益危 dào gāo yì ān , shì gāo yì wēi

DEFINITIONS

  1. More moral strength increases one's safety, more power and influence increases one's danger (idiom, from Records of the Historian 史記|史记). cf Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it (William Pitt the Elder, 1770).

CHARACTERS

道 dào path, road, street; method, way
高 gāo high, tall; lofty, elevated
益 yì profit, benefit; advantage
安 ān peaceful, tranquil, quiet
势 shì power, force; tendency
高 gāo high, tall; lofty, elevated
益 yì profit, benefit; advantage
危 wēi dangerous, precarious; high