Shān zhōng wú lǎohǔ, hóuzi chēng dàwáng.*

山中無老虎, 猴子稱大王。

Lit [When] there's no tiger on the mountain, the monkey becomes king.

Fig When authority is absent, those in lesser positions try to take over. When there are no truly able leaders, one must be content with less able people. “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.”

Note [See also hǎishàng wú yú above and shǔ zhōng wú dàjiàng and yánwáng bù zài below.]

Topics ABILITY ABSENCE AUTHORITY LEADERS LEADERSHIP POSITION POWER SUBORDINATES