Meaning of the word "a stream cannot rise higher its source" in English

What does "a stream cannot rise higher its source" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

a stream cannot rise higher its source

US /ə striːm ˈkæn.ɑːt raɪz ˈhaɪ.ər ɪts sɔːrs/
UK /ə striːm ˈkæn.ɒt raɪz ˈhaɪ.ə ɪts sɔːs/
"a stream cannot rise higher its source" picture

Idiom

a person cannot be better than their origins, or a result cannot be superior to the quality of its cause

Example:
The quality of the final product was poor because the raw materials were cheap; as they say, a stream cannot rise higher than its source.
You can't expect the students to be disciplined if the teacher is chaotic; a stream cannot rise higher than its source.