Thinking out loud

Saturday, June 17, 2006

On specialization...

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, design a building, write a sonnet, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, solve equations, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
- Robert Heinlein

I couldn't agree more.

posted by Parijat at 12:14 PM

7 Comments:

  • welll...are you supposed to be jack of all trades?

    By Blogger Aparajita Paul, at 11:33 PM  

  • No. What this means is that even if (and you should) specialise in one thing (be a master of one trade) that should not be an excuse for not being a jack of all others.

    Unfortunately, with time I've realised that being "a jack of all trades and a master of them too" is not possible. However, you can certainly be "a jack of all trades and master of one". See what I mean?

    By Blogger Parijat, at 12:20 AM  

  • I think I am a jack of all trades and a master of none. (Or, could be that I'm always my own worst critic. In any case, ) I'll be working on that!

    I realized I could perform a majority of these tasks. Good, I'm close. :)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:49 AM  

  • Go work Suraj! Its still not past the 21st :)

    By Blogger Parijat, at 7:51 AM  

  • Yaar, I can't seem to get the same kind of motivation that I had till the 6th semester at IIT.

    I think I'll qualify with what I have done and know. There's a small chance I may not, but then, I'm not so inclined either.

    :)

    P.S.: I realized that fitting the motivations and objectives for a thesis in 15 minutes (sharp) is a challenge!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:59 AM  

  • Strong, inspiring words.
    But I sorta don't agree.

    You could have the most fulfilling of lives being only a master of one trade. Or you could have the perfect life being a jack of all trades, or you could be somewhere in between.

    No one else should be able to define what you should know how to do and what you shouldn't.

    If I was lucky enough to LOVE computers, and I could do ONLY that, and talk to noone, and not be social, and be hopeless at taking or giving orders, and not be able to cook, but if I was happy at what I am doing, and if I loved my life, then who is Robert Heinlein to judge?

    By Blogger Bridget Jones, at 2:38 AM  

  • Of course, I agree that one's aim in life should be to be happy. And if one can do so being what he is, that is perfect. And that is as it should be. But alas, even though it might be wrong, it is hard to not judge people. And that too judge them by one's own standards. I learnt it the hard way that what one chooses to do with one's life is very personal and I shouldn't concern myself with it. Yet, I am all for being able to do all he says and more. And since I'm only human, it'll be a while before I stop being baffled by how people cannot be fascinated by all they see around them and stick to one area of focus. Sorry. I was wired this way :)

    By Blogger Parijat, at 7:50 AM  

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