為虎傅翼

From Hanfeizi (《韓非子•難勢》) quoting Zhoushu (original title of Yi Zhou Shu):

故《周書》曰：毋爲虎傅翼，將飛入邑，擇人而食之。夫乘不肖人於勢，是爲虎傅翼也。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]

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故《周书》曰：毋为虎傅翼，将飞入邑，择人而食之。夫乘不肖人于势，是为虎傅翼也。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

From: Han Feizi, circa 2^nd century BCE

Gù “Zhōushū” yuē: wú wèi hǔ fù yì, jiāng fēi rù yì, zé rén ér shí zhī. Fú chéng bùxiào rén yú shì, shì wèi hǔ fù yì yě. [Pinyin]

Hence Book of Zhou says: ‘Do not add wings to tigers. Otherwise, they will fly into the village, catch people, and devour them.’ Indeed, to place unworthy men in advantageous positions is the same as to add wings to tigers.

A nearly identical text could be found in the Lost Books of Zhou, Vol III, Chapter 31, although the credibility of this book is lower.

為虎傅翼

1. (literary, figurative) to back an already mighty evildoer

   • 所為立君者，以禁暴討亂也。今乘萬民之力，而反為殘賊，是為虎傅翼，曷為弗除！ [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
     所为立君者，以禁暴讨乱也。今乘万民之力，而反为残贼，是为虎傅翼，曷为弗除！ [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

     From: Huainanzi, 2^nd century BCE

     Suǒwèi lì jūn zhě, yǐ jìn bào tǎo luàn yě. Jīn chéng wànmín zhī lì, ér fǎn wèi cánzéi, shì wèihǔfùyì, héwèi fú chú! [Pinyin]

     The purpose of enthroning sovereigns is to stop tyrannical activity and suppress rebellions. If a sovereign, exhausting the strength of tens of thousands of ordinary people, instead turns to cruelly oppressing his subjects, this is just like giving wings to tigers! Why not get rid of him?

• 為虎添翼／为虎添翼