కోటి విద్యలూ కూటి కొరకే

koti vidyalu kuti korake

Translation

Ten million arts are only for [getting] food.

Meaning

This proverb highlights that no matter how many skills, educational degrees, or talents a person possesses, the ultimate goal of all their efforts is to earn a livelihood and satisfy their basic need for food. It is used to remind people that every profession or skill has the same fundamental purpose: survival.

Notes

All professions are only so many means of livelihood.

Related Phrases

To be born is but for death.

This expression reflects a philosophical view on the cycle of life and death. It is used to remind others that death is an inevitable outcome of birth and that one should not be overly attached to worldly life or fear the end, as it is a natural law of existence.

Ten million skills are all for earning one’s livelihood.

The purpose, by and large, of acquisition of diverse special skills is only to make a living.

Knowledge without a teacher is blind knowledge.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of a mentor or guide in the learning process. It suggests that self-taught knowledge without proper guidance can be incomplete, directionless, or prone to errors, much like a person walking in the dark without sight.

Feeling the neck for beads. Said of a wheedling scoundrel.

This proverb describes a situation where someone shows affection or attention to a person only because they want something from them. It implies ulterior motives behind seemingly kind actions, much like someone touching a neck only to check or steal the jewelry on it.

Joking is for the sake of discord; price increases are for the sake of decreases.

This proverb suggests that every state has an opposite cycle. Playful teasing or familiarity often leads to misunderstandings or conflict, just as market prices that rise will eventually fall. It is used to caution people to be moderate in their behavior and to understand that situations in life are temporary and cyclical.

No matter how many skills one acquires, none can equal the ancestral/family trade.

This proverb emphasizes that one's innate or inherited family profession comes naturally and is often more sustainable than learned skills. It is used to highlight the importance of preserving traditional crafts or to suggest that one's true talent lies in what has been passed down through generations.

Anger on the tip of the nose

This expression is used to describe someone who is short-tempered or gets angry very quickly and easily. It implies that their anger is always 'at the ready' right on their face.

Ploughing a field for food is better than knowing ten million other skills.

This proverb emphasizes the supreme importance of agriculture and food security over any other professional skill or academic knowledge. It suggests that while there are countless ways to earn a living or gain knowledge, the profession that provides basic sustenance (farming) is the most noble and essential for survival.

If you have food, it is like having ten million.

This expression emphasizes that food is the most basic and essential wealth. If one has a meal to eat, they are as rich as a millionaire, highlighting that basic sustenance is more important than extreme wealth.

Ten million arts/skills are only for the sake of food.

This proverb is a variation of 'Koti vidyalu kooti korake' (which is the correct version of the user's input). It means that no matter how many skills or talents one possesses, the ultimate goal of all work is to earn a livelihood and satisfy one's hunger. It is used to highlight the basic necessity of survival behind every professional pursuit.