- English translation
Not everyone who blows on the fire cooks a meal, and not everyone who cooks a meal blows on the fire.
- Literal wording
Not everyone who blows cooks, and not everyone who cooks blows.
- Meaning and lesson
Results do not always correspond neatly to the effort or means used to reach them. Someone may obtain an aim with little apparent exertion, while another person’s hard work may not bring the hoped-for result.
It can also question the assumption that attempting a task proves competence. Taking part in an activity or using one of its methods does not necessarily show that a person can carry it through successfully.
- When it is used
Use it when comparing effort, skill, and outcomes, especially when visible attempts or hard work do not reliably indicate who will succeed.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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