They that are bound must obey.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

Being bound suggests an obligation that limits what a person may choose. The saying stresses the force of commitments, but its demand for obedience must be qualified by the actual terms, fairness and circumstances rather than treated as a universal command.

What the words are saying

The image of binding makes an obligation feel like something that restrains movement. A promise or accepted role can create responsibilities that should not be disregarded merely because a person now prefers another course. The sentence compresses that point into an absolute demand to obey. Such compression leaves out whether the obligation was freely accepted, what it actually requires and whether circumstances have changed. A constructive reading clarifies the commitment and discusses a responsible response. It does not make another person’s authority unlimited, settle legal questions or require submission to a harmful demand.

Everyday example

A volunteer who agreed to open a venue arranges an agreed replacement when unable to attend, rather than silently abandoning the task.

When to use it

Use it to discuss a specific commitment and its understood terms.

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