Every man to his trade.
Meaning: Individuals excel when focusing on their own expertise rather than attempting unfamiliar work outside their competence.
Origin: Recorded from the late 16th century. Everyone should stick to what they know, an idea often linked to 1 Corinthians 7:20: "Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called."
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Chacun à son goût (literally: Every man to his taste)
- Spanish: Zapatero, a tus zapatos (literally: Shoemaker, to your shoes)
- Japanese: 餅は餅屋 (Mochi wa mochiya) (literally: For rice cakes, go to the rice-cake maker)
- German: Schuster, bleib bei deinem Leisten (literally: Cobbler, stick to your last)
More proverbs about Human Nature
- A prophet is not without honor in his own country — Recognition is hardest to win from the people who know you best.
- Blood is thicker than water — Family bonds are stronger than other relationships.
- Birds of a feather flock together — People with similar interests or characteristics tend to associate with each other.
- You can't judge a book by its cover — Appearances can be deceiving.
- Too many cooks spoil the broth — Too many people involved can ruin a project.
- Curiosity killed the cat — Being too inquisitive can lead to trouble.