What is a workman without his tools?
Meaning: A skilled person stripped of necessary resources cannot apply their expertise effectively.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Perseverance
- Trade knows neither friends nor kindred. — Business transactions dissolve personal loyalties; profit motives override familial bonds…
- Fall not out with a friend for a trifle. — Friendships are too valuable to sacrifice over minor disagreements or petty disputes.
- He who seeketh trouble never misseth it. — Persistent negativity and conflict-seeking behavior inevitably attract the very problems…
- Trust in God, and keep your powder dry. — Maintain faith while preparing pragmatically for conflict; spiritual confidence shouldn't…
- Try your friend before you trust him. — Test a person's character through small, low-stakes interactions before depending on them…
- If things were to be done twice, all would be wise. — Hindsight reveals mistakes, but life allows no rehearsals—act carefully the first time.
From our tongue twisters
- Şu çam sakızı çan sakızı olmuş, çan sakızı şan sakızı olmuş. — A 'ş/ç/şan/çan' duel — Turkish's two close sibilants at war with each other.
- Sex laxar i en laxask. — A short 'x/lax/ks' crunch — Swedish's 'x' sounds like 'ks', which doubles the trap.
- Sju sjösjuka sjömän skötte sjuttiosju sjösjuka sjölejon på skeppet Shanghai. — An unstoppable 'sj/sk/sh' onslaught — the Swedish sj-sound (a unique voiceless fricative)…