Shàngliáng bù zhèng, xià liáng wāi.*

Lit [If the] main [roof] beam is not upright, the lower ones [will be] crooked.

Fig If those in authority do not behave properly, their subordinates will follow suit.

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 26.]

Topics BEHAVIOR EXAMPLE HONESTY JPM RECTITUDE SUBORDINATES SUPERIORS