If you want to surrender to a rat, avoid the weapon.

Ban Gu's "Book of Han Jia Yi Biography". The general meaning of this sentence is: I want to throw something to hit the mouse, but I am afraid of damaging the object. "Hanshu Jia Yi Zhuan": "The proverb says: '~', this is a good edict. When a rat is close to a weapon, it is still afraid of throwing it, for fear of hurting the weapon. What's more, the noble minister is close to the master!" It means that the powerful are close to the monarch! , being favored, I am afraid that attacking the powerful will offend the monarch. This sentence often refers to wanting to get rid of evil forces but having scruples and not letting go.

Historian of the Eastern Han Dynasty Ban Gu's "Book of Han Jia Yi Biography"