proverb · Words worth keeping
When a king makes a mistake, all the people suffer.
When a king makes a mistake, all the people suffer.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A king’s mistake making all people suffer gives leadership error a broad public consequence. It stresses the reach of decisions made by someone with power.
Example
A community examines how a particular official decision affected people and what remedy those responsible can provide.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
All exaggerates the scale rather than proving identical harm to every person. The supplied leader gloss generalises beyond a king, a useful analogy when the actual authority and consequences are checked. A responsible interpretation asks for evidence and accountability without assuming every leader’s error has the same effect.
When to use it
Use it to discuss leadership responsibility with actual consequences identified.
Keep in mind
No universal harm to everyone or identical effect from every leadership mistake is established.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown