Ancient thoughts on developing craft and skill

"Don't worry that no one recognizes you;
seek to be worthy of recognition."
- Confucius, Analects 4.14

"Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will serve before kings;
He will not serve before obscure men."
- author unknown*, Proverbs 22.29


*In the book of Proverbs, "The third collection (22.17-24.22), entitled 'the words of the wise,' is a compilation of thirty instructions probably modeled on an Egyptian source, the Instruction of Amen-em-ope, probably dated ca. 1000 BCE." -- The Oxford Companion to the Bible