All the keys hang not at one man's girdle.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

No single person holds every means of solving a problem or gaining access. The keys suggest that knowledge, authority and opportunity may be distributed, so another person or route may help when one option fails.

What the words are saying

A girdle is a belt, and the pictured keys do not all hang from the same person’s belt. The image challenges the assumption that one individual controls every possible opening. In ordinary life, different people may hold different information, permissions or skills, and one refusal may not settle what is possible elsewhere. The saying can encourage asking who has the relevant authority rather than treating the most prominent person as the only gatekeeper. It does not establish a right to bypass a legitimate restriction. A different route should still respect consent, responsibilities and the rules that govern access.

Everyday example

After a receptionist cannot answer a catalogue question, a visitor asks which librarian manages that collection rather than assuming the information is unavailable.

When to use it

Use it when a problem needs another person’s knowledge or a different legitimate route.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.