The fault is great in proportion to him who commits it.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

The seriousness of a fault can depend on the responsibility and influence of the person committing it. Greater power may create greater consequences and stronger duties.

What the words are saying

The saying makes the fault grow with the person who commits it. A useful interpretation concerns responsibility rather than social rank: someone entrusted with a decision can affect many others through an error or abuse. The same act may therefore require different safeguards or responses depending on the role and its consequences. This does not make wrongdoing by an influential person acceptable or wrongdoing by someone with little power irrelevant. Examine what happened, who was affected and what duty was neglected. Accountability should be proportionate and fair rather than a display of deference.

Everyday example

A manager takes responsibility for a misleading instruction that affected an entire team instead of assigning blame only to one person who followed it.

When to use it

Use it to connect influence with responsibility and consequences.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.