Without rice, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook

Similar sayings:

Talk does not cook rice Talk does not cook rice
In the presence of princes the cleverest jester is mute In the presence of princes the cleverest jester is mute
He that has no money might as well be buried in a rice tub with his mouth sewn up He that has no money might as well be buried in a rice tub with his mouth sewn up
We all like lamb; each has a different way of cooking it We all like lamb; each has a different way of cooking it
In every family’s cooking pot is one black spot In every family’s cooking pot is one black spot

Chinese sayings and proverbs