汉英词典
Chinese-English Dictionary
MEANING OF 只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯
zhǐ xǔ zhōu guān fàng huǒ , bù xǔ bǎi xìng diǎn dēng
只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯
(只許州官放火，不許百姓點燈)
only the official is allowed to light the fire / Gods may do what cattle may not / quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi
It means that the reactionary ruler can do anything wrong, but the ordinary people are even restricted from their legitimate activities
《老学庵笔记》卷五载宋代田登做州官，不许提他的名字，因登”与灯”同音，就把点灯”叫成点火”，元宵节放灯，说成放火”，布告写本州依例放火三日”◇遂用只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯”比喻统治者自己可以为所欲为，却不许人民有一点自由。也比喻只管自己胡作非为，专制蛮横，却不许别人有正当的权利。
只 zhǐ/zhī 许 (許) xǔ 州 zhōu 官 guān 放 fàng 火 huǒ 不 bù/bú 百 bǎi 姓 xìng 点 (點) diǎn 灯 (燈) dēng
EXAMPLE SENTENCES

只许州官放火， 不许百姓点灯！

Zhou Guan set fire and forbid common people light-on!

只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯。 （增译连词） 这是我们两国人民的又一个共同点。

While the magistrates were free to burn down house, the common people were forbidden to light lamps.

一人可以偷马，他人无权看看围篱。（联想：只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯。）

One may steal a horse, while another may not look over the hedge.

依照男人的哲学，在性的问题上，有些“ 只许州官放火， 不许百姓点灯”的味道。

The philosophy of according to man , on sexual problem , some " make state official set fire only , must not common people lights a lamp " flavour.

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