"It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them"

This quote by Tiberius is a metaphor for how a leader should treat their people. A great shepherd is responsible for the care and defense of his flock, and the quote is recommending that a leader ought to not take advantage of their individuals. Instead, they ought to offer them and guarantee their well-being. The metaphor of shearing the sheep implies that a leader ought to take only what is essential from their individuals, and not take more than they can offer. This remains in contrast to skinning the sheep, which implies taking everything from them, leaving them with absolutely nothing.

The quote is a reminder that a leader need to be mindful of their individuals and not benefit from them. It is very important for a leader to be reasonable and just in their transactions with their people, and to guarantee that they are not taking more than they should. A leader should be a good shepherd, providing for their individuals and protecting them, not benefiting from them. This quote is a suggestion of the significance of being a responsible leader and dealing with individuals with regard.