Why would a man without a bow look for arrows?
Why would a man without a bow look for arrows?
Meaning in plain English
Looking for arrows without having a bow questions obtaining something whose use depends on a missing means. The saying asks whether preparation fits the actual situation.
Example
A team checks whether it can use a proposed resource before spending time collecting it.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The question is a practical analogy rather than weapon guidance. A useful reading considers dependencies without assuming a resource has only one purpose. Planning for a future need can be reasonable, and the image does not establish that every missing prerequisite must be acquired first.
When to use it
Use it to examine prerequisites and relevance.
Keep in mind
No weapon procedure or universal acquisition order is supplied.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Country attributed by the collection
India · source-attributed; earliest origin unverified
- Source
- Contributor-provided wisdom reference
Supplied reference B; unit 370; PDF page 37; collection label: India
Reuse and collection notes ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · supplied collection
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Contributor-confirmed reuse permission
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗