An idiom from Mencius meaning that without standards or rules, nothing can be accomplished; emphasizes the necessity of following established guidelines.

(medicine) established or ready-made prescription for a specific condition; a fixed medical formula that is not custom-made for an individual patient

one must follow rules to achieve results; lit. without a compass and a square, one cannot make squares and circles

without rules, how can anything be achieved; one must follow established rules and standards to succeed