Guān chà, lì chà; láirén bù chà.

官差吏差, 來人不差。

Lit [That] official [may be] wrong [or this] mandarin [may be] wrong, [but] the messenger who [actually] comes [sent by the superiors] is not wrong.

Fig Right or wrong, people just (have to) follow orders or do their jobs; they're not to blame.

Note [Cf. JW, chap. 3; Hé Diǎn, chap. 9.]

Topics BLAME DUTY Hé Diǎn HIERARCHY JW OFFICIALS