First of all, I don't entirely disagree with that saying, but I think that sometimes you have to give people fish, until they finally learn to fish and are able to catch fishes.
Why? Well, reality shows that a person who is starving can hardly concentrate on the fishing process, and if that person has a children who are starving, it can cost them a lot and take a toll in their minds.
Obviously, I'm not talking about fish... but I'm talking about starving...
Quite a funny analogy but it's the truth. People need to be fed so they stay motivated and grow to a certain level before they are able to fend on their own.