You can do whatever you want, but others can't.
The literal meaning is that officials are allowed to set fires and misbehave, but ordinary people are not allowed to light lamps and illuminates. It means that powerful people can do whatever they want, but ordinary people are restricted from even their legitimate activities. "
The original sentence comes from the great poet Lu You's "Notes of Laoxue'an". This postscript appears in Volume 5. The book says: Tian Deng was appointed as a county and he concealed his name. Those who touched him would be angry, and the officials would die. Many people in the state were beaten, so everyone in the state called the lanterns fire. In the Yuan Dynasty, people were allowed to visit the state, and the officials published the list in the city and said: "This state is set on fire for three days." Xuzhou officials set fires and did not allow the people to light lamps. ”