What is a workman without his tooles? – Proverb quoted by Heywood, 1546

The civil law cannot provide but by common measures… all their rules are made by as common a measure as they can, and they are the best rules that have the fewest exceptions: the best Carpenters make the fewest chips: but some there must be. – Jeremy Taylor, Ductor Dubitantium, or The Rule of Conscience, 1659

Woodworking is a most satisfying pastime, so varied and multifaceted you will never complete the twin processes you have undertaken: acquiring tools and learning how to use them. You have begun a lifetime pursuit. – Michael Dunbar, “Essential Tools”

[E]dged tools are dangerous things to handle, and not infrequently do much hurt. – Agnes Reppllier, “Wit and Humor,” 1892 [A bit of context here: “Wit is the salt