杖つえに縋すがるとも人ひとに縋すがるな

Meanings

1

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.

「杖つえに縋すがるとも人ひとに縋すがるな」という言こと葉ばを胸むねに、彼かれは誰だれにも頼たよらずに生いきてきた。
With the saying "lean on your cane, not on others" in his heart, he has lived without depending on anyone.