A bad workman always blames his tools

Meaning: Incompetent people blame external factors for their failures instead of taking responsibility.

Origin: English proverb recorded in the 17th century, based on earlier French and Latin sources.

Translations

• French: Les mauvais ouvriers ont toujours de mauvais outils (literally: Bad workers always have bad tools)
• Spanish: Un mal trabajador siempre culpa a sus herramientas (literally: A bad worker always blames his tools)
• Japanese: 下手な職人は道具のせいにする (Heta na shokunin wa dōgu no sei ni suru) (literally: A poor craftsman blames his tools)

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