What is the Chinese original version of the proverb "Craftsman, know your tools"?
I think the original proverb is &quot;工欲善其事 必先利其器&quot;

工 = 工匠 (craftsman)
欲善其事 (want to do his job well)
必先 (must first)
利其器 (make his tools sharp, meaning in good condition)

This saying is using &quot;To do a good job, a craftsman must sharpen his tools&quot; as an analogy for &quot;To be successful, one must first prepare his tools (make preparation)&quot;.
&quot;Sharpen tools&quot; is a metaphor for &quot;make preparation&quot;.