Hadith: That one of you takes his rope, goes to the mountain, cuts some firewood, carries it on his back, and sells it, thereby Allah saves his face (his dignity) is better for him than to ask people and they either give him or deny him

عن الزبير بن العَوَّام رضي الله عنه مرفوعاً: «لأَن يأخذ أحدكم أُحبُلَهُ ثم يأتي الجبل، فيأتي بِحُزْمَة من حطب على ظهره فيبيعها، فَيَكُفَّ الله بها وجهه، خيرٌ له من أن يسأل الناس، أعْطَوه أو مَنَعُوه».
[صحيح] - [رواه البخاري]

Az-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwām (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "That one of you takes his rope, goes to the mountain, cuts some firewood, carries it on his back, and sells it, thereby Allah saves his face (his dignity) is better for him than to ask people and they either give him or deny him."
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Bukhari]

Explanation

Earning one's living from the labor of one's hand is better than asking people for their money, whether they give him or refuse. That a person takes his rope and goes out to the pastures, farms and forests, collects some firewood, carries it on his back and sells it, thereby maintaining his dignity and self-respect and sparing himself the humiliation of begging is far better for him than to ask people, whether they give him or deny him. Asking people (for money) is a humiliation, and the believer is honorable, not self-abasing.