A Clumsy Workman Blames His Tools
Human nature is such that none is prepared to accept his own deficiency, drawbacks and blemishes. A typist who often commits mistakes would blame the quality of he typewriters. Similarly an inefficient mechanic condemns the entire auto-mobile industry. This is because we are used to finding fault with everyone and everything else except ourselves.
On the other hand, a piece of work can be thoroughly accomplished only when the person carrying it out is true to his job. If the workman does not concentrate on his task, he makes a shoddy job of it, but he is not willing to take responsibility of his failure and calls his tools imperfect. Thus instead of improving himself, a clumsy workman looks for scapegoats to thrust his faults on.
This is perhaps most evident in a student who does not fare well in his examinations. Instead of looking for reasons within himself, he looks outside for someone or something to blame such as a difficult question paper, a leaky pen or a wrathful examiner. Similarly a dancer who fails to perform well a particular event attributes his poor performance to the incompetent musicians, accompanists or to the poor stage management.
A farmer who does not tend his crops blames his poor produce on everything and everyone other than his negligence. An employee who fails to get promoted is a common example of this proverb. Instead of self-analysis, he accuses his superior of favouritism and his promoted colleagues of sycophancy. He fails to realise that reward is proportional to input.
Therefore it is important for people to accept the existence of their faults, if any, and correct them. This is the only way up the ladder of success. The proverb aptly reflects normal human behaviour.
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