ProverbWisdom
French origin
French originC'est au pied du mur qu'on voit le maçon
Meaning: You only know what someone can do when they are put to the test.
Literally: It's at the foot of the wall that you see the mason
Example: “Il promet beaucoup, mais c'est au pied du mur qu'on voit le maçon.” — He promises a lot, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Equivalents in English, Spanish, Japanese, and German
English: The proof is in the pudding
Spanish: Al freír será el reír (literally: When frying will come the laughing)
Japanese: 論より証拠 (Ron yori shōko) (literally: Evidence over argument)
German: Probieren geht über Studieren (literally: Trying beats studying)
Origin: A mason's skill shows in the wall he builds, not in what he says about it. Être au pied du mur, to be at the foot of the wall, also means to have no way out.
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