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竊鉤者誅,竊國者侯

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Chinese

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steal; secretly; personally entice; hook ‑ist, ‑er (person); person (who does something) execute; punish steal; secretly; personally country; state; nation ‑ist, ‑er (person); person (who does something) marquis
trad. (竊鉤者誅,竊國者侯/竊鈎者誅,竊國者侯) /
simp. (窃钩者诛,窃国者侯)

Etymology

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諸侯諸侯仁義是非仁義 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
诸侯诸侯仁义是非仁义 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3rd – 2nd centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
qiè gōu zhě zhū, qiè guó zhě wèi zhūhóu, zhūhóu zhī mén, ér rényì cún yān, zé shìfēi qiè rényì shèng zhì yé? [Pinyin]
Here is one who steals a hook (for his girdle) - he is put to death for it: here is another who steals a state - he becomes its prince. But it is at the gates of the princes that we find benevolence and righteousness (most strongly) professed - is not this stealing benevolence and righteousness, sageness and wisdom?

Pronunciation

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Proverb

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竊鉤者誅,竊國者侯

  1. (sarcastic) Used to criticize political corruption to an extent that right and wrong is falsified.