Let not the cobbler go beyond his last.
Meaning: Each person works best within their area of expertise; overstepping into unfamiliar domains risks poor results.
Origin: Pliny the Elder tells the story of the Greek painter Apelles, who took a shoemaker's criticism of a sandal in one of his paintings and corrected it. When the shoemaker went on to criticize the leg, Apelles told him not to judge above the sandal. The Latin ne sutor ultra crepidam became the rebuke for anyone offering opinions outside their expertise; the last is the foot-shaped block a shoemaker works on.
More proverbs about Wisdom
- The cock crows and the hen goes. — Male leadership or declaration prompts female action; authority initiates response.
- Where coin's not common, commons must be scant. — Monetary poverty forces communities to rely on scarce shared resources rather than abunda…
- When you ride a young colt see your saddle be well girt. — Secure your foundations before undertaking risky ventures with unpredictable partners or…
- There's no companion like a penny. — Reliable money stays loyal through misfortune when fair-weather friends abandon you.
- It is no small conquest to overcome yourself. — Self-mastery requires greater strength than defeating external enemies or obstacles.
- A clear conscience is a sure card. — An undisturbed mind from honest conduct provides reliable confidence in facing life's cha…