HANDS: 

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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.
The Practical Painter & Decorator (1959)
01
I strongly believe in the importance of the “why” question.

Those fortunate enough to work alongside true craftsmen may absorb certain things instinctively — though even here, I am not entirely convinced. The rest of us must constantly engage in an inner dialogue: Why is something done this way? Could it be done differently? And most haunting of all: why is it done at all?

02
The “why” question helps you notice what you didn’t see.

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.

Mastery becomes possible not because you collect isolated techniques but because you understand the internal logic of the craft itself.

03
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. This autonomy is essential. It is what separates mechanical repetition from genuine mastery.
04
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 condition of continued growth.
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