“First he wrought, and afterward he taught”
— Geoffrey Chaucer
Simplified Meaning:
The quote is talking about the importance of doing something yourself before trying to teach or instruct others on how to do it. It means that you should gain personal experience and understanding of a task before you guide or give advice to others. Think of it like this: imagine a chef who teaches cooking classes. Before they can show others how to make a dish, they must have cooked it themselves many times. By knowing firsthand how to prepare the meal, they can give better instructions and tips to their students. In real life, this idea can apply across many fields. For instance, a person advising others on how to manage finances should have experience managing their own money. If they haven't done it themselves, their advice may not be as practical or insightful. So, if you want to help someone learn a new skill or solve a problem, first make sure you have done it yourself. This way, you can teach with confidence and provide real, useful guidance.