lean on your cane, not on others
Proverb advising self-reliance: it is better to use a physical support like a cane than to depend on other people.
「杖に縋るとも人に縋るな」という言葉を胸に、彼は誰にも頼らずに生きてきた。
With the saying "lean on your cane, not on others" in his heart, he has lived without depending on anyone.
A traditional Japanese proverb. The exact origin is uncertain, but it reflects a common cultural value of self-reliance.