Teach a man to fish

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. That's an old Chinese proverb.


Teachers love this saying. I don't. I feel it promotes dependence.

People need to learn how to figure things out for themselves. If you teach a man to fish, that's all he will know. When he wants more, he has to turn to someone to tell him what to do.

What about water? What about shelter? What about other food sources? How do you respond to any emergency situation? Teaching a man to fish doesn't address any of these things.

You can help someone learn. Show a man a fish. Let him know they are edible. Let him know they are in the lake. Necessity can be a terrific motivator, and what we can figure out on our own is frequently underestimated. Knowing that there is a source to meet a need, that's probably enough for him to figure out a way to catch them. If you have a fishing pole, you can give it to him. Let him know what fish eat. You can help, but he needs to teach himself.

Teach a man to fish, and he needs you to teach him everything. Encourage a man to teach himself, and he will accomplish far more. Give a man a fish, and he might be better off than teaching him how to fish (depending on the individual).