Seeking fish? Don’t dive in the pond; go home and get a net

Similar sayings:

Don’t stand by the water and long for fish; go home and weave a net Don’t stand by the water and long for fish; go home and weave a net
Weaving a net is better than praying for fish at the edge of the water Weaving a net is better than praying for fish at the edge of the water
Do not seek answers; seek to understand the questions Do not seek answers; seek to understand the questions
The pitcher doth not go so often to the well, but it comes home broken at last The pitcher doth not go so often to the well, but it comes home broken at last
Better do a kindness near home than go far to burn incense Better do a kindness near home than go far to burn incense

Chinese sayings and proverbs