Les cordonniers sont les plus mal chaussés

Literal Translation

Cobblers have the worst shoes

Actual Meaning

The shoemaker’s children go barefoot? One does not necessarily benefit from their own profession.

Etymology

Found in one of Montaigne’s essays (1500), the origin of this proverb is fairly obvious: shoemakers in the Middle ages did not have time or money to make decent shoes for themselves.

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