HANDS:
hands
hands title:
§20. Rule 13: Why
hands date:
21 November 2025
hands text:
Our practical man is neither a man of science
nor a student of art, as these terms are generally understood,
but the man who gets the job done.
But the man who ignores the principles underlying his work
can never take an intelligent interest in it, with the result
that it must tend to become boring rather than pleasurable to him.
Such a man is condemned to a lifetime's hard labour.
nor a student of art, as these terms are generally understood,
but the man who gets the job done.
But the man who ignores the principles underlying his work
can never take an intelligent interest in it, with the result
that it must tend to become boring rather than pleasurable to him.
Such a man is condemned to a lifetime's hard labour.
01
I am a great believer in the “why” question.
02
Those fortunate enough to have worked alongside true craftsmen might manage to ignore it—though even here, I am not so sure. The rest of us—mere mortals—must constantly engage in an inner dialogue: Why? Why is something done in this particular way? Could it be done differently? And, most haunting of all, why is it done at all?
03
The “why” question helps you notice what you didn’t see.
04
When you simply repeat a technique, you may become competent but your growth remains limited. When you ask why, you begin to uncover the underlying principles that govern your work. The why question — why a method works, why a rule exists, why a particular choice succeeds — pushes you beyond imitation and toward insight.
05
Mastery becomes possible not because you collect more tricks but because you understand the internal logic of the craft itself.
06
I also like the why question for the autonomy it brings. Instead of depending on other craftsmen or on tradition alone, you become capable of diagnosing problems and devising solutions. If your aim as a craftsman is to rise above the vast majority of your fellow tradespeople, this autonomy is an absolute must. It is what separates a skilled practitioner from a true master.
07
Finally, asking why nourishes curiosity — the driving force behind sustained improvement. It keeps the craft alive, dynamic and personally meaningful. In this way, why is not just a question; it is the engine of mastery.