Strike while the iron is hot. ~ English Proverb, American [18362]

These words come from forging metal into shape. Iron is heated until it is red hot, then placed on an anvil. The forge has only a short period of time to hammer it into shape. Once the iron cools, it is no longer malleable.

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The Forge
Francisco de Goya [Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

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16, POTD, Proverb of the Day,

A bad workman quarrels with his tools. ~ English & Romanian Proverb [15095]

Minnesota Historical Society
[CC-BY-SA-2.0],
via Wikimedia Commons

Notable Mention:
This proverb is used in the third season premier of Downton Abbey (S03,E01).

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16, POTD, Proverb of the Day,

A bad workman blames his tools. — English proverb

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[6008] WW001 WednesdayWisdom

Even the finest carpenter hits a thumb from time to time. — Dutch proverb

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[6036]

A piece of iron can only become what the blacksmith says it should become. ~ African Proverb [15007]

Francisco de Goya [Public Domain]

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The block of wood should not dictate to the carver. ~ New Zealander Proverb, Maori [18610]

The work praises the man. ~ Swedish Proverb [18562]

You must judge a man by the work of his hands. ~ African Proverb [18386]

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Sinews and big muscles do not make a farmer. ~ Nigerian Proverb [18215]

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Measure a thousand times and cut once. ~ Turkish Proverb [17764]

It is a bad workman that has a bad saw. ~ Russian Proverb [17495]

If skill could be gained by watching, every dog would become a butcher. ~ Kurdish Proverb [17296]

If a job is worth doing it is worth doing well. ~ American Proverb [17093]

He who carves the Buddha never worships him. ~ Chinese Proverb [16804]

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Even a thief takes ten years to learn his trade. ~ Japanese Proverb [16400]

You must judge a man by the work of his hands. ~ Chinese Proverb [16080]

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Acquire skill and make it deep. ~ Hawaiian Proverb [15575]