Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 3: The Path of Action

Bhagavad Gita 3.21

yadyadācarati śreṣṭhastattadevetaro janaḥ | sa yatpramāṇaṃ kurute lokastadanuvartate ||

Whatever a great person does, others do as well. Whatever standard such a person sets, the world follows.

Modern context

What a leading person does, others do; the standard he sets, the world follows. Every parent, teacher, manager and elder sibling is such a person to someone. People learn far more from what we do than from what we tell them. Whether we wish it or not, our conduct is someone's permission.