אֵין מְסָרְבִים לַגָּדוֹל, מְסָרְבִים לַקָּטָן וְאֵין מְסָרְבִים לַגָּדוֹל

ביטוי (אנגלית)

One does not refuse a greater person; one refuses a lesser, but not a greater

הגדרה (אנגלית)

Etiquette dictates that one should not refuse the request of a person of higher stature.

("And he urged them greatly—Rabbi Elazar said: from here we learn that one refuses a lesser, but not a greater"—Bava Metzia 87a; also: "A gift of affection I give you. Will you accept it from me? The boy hesitated and said: one does not refuse a greater. The minister bent down and kissed his face: May you live long to serve your people"—Y. Burla, Longings, p. 47; also: "But one refuses a lesser, and not a greater, he entered, blessed him and said: Peace be upon you, my teacher and master"—Mordechai ben Yehezkel, Book of Stories IV, The Lost Object, p. 214)