只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯

zhǐ xǔ zhōu guān fàng huǒ , bù xǔ bǎi xìng diǎn dēng

only the official is allowed to light the fire

Gods may do what cattle may not; quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi

只

zhǐ

variant of 只[zhi3]

许

xǔ

to allow

州

zhōu

prefecture

官

guān

government official

放

fàng

to put

火

huǒ

fire

，

,

不

bù

no; not so

许

xǔ

to allow

百

bǎi

hundred

姓

xìng

family name; surname

点

diǎn

to touch briefly; to tap

灯

dēng

lamp