- 防民之口甚于防川 fángmínzhīkǒushènyúfángchuān to silence the people is harder than to dam a riverStopping the people's voices from being heard is more dangerous and difficult than stopping a river with a dam; suppression of public opinion will eventually lead to a disaster.
- 防人之口，甚于防川 fángrénzhīkǒushènyúfángchuān to silence the people is harder than to dam a riverit is more dangerous to stop the people from speaking than to block a river; a warning against suppressing public opinion
- 防民之口，甚于防水 fángmínzhīkǒushènyúfángshuǐ to suppress public opinion is dangerousstopping the people's mouths is more dangerous than stopping a flood; it is impossible to suppress the voice of the people