On Being a Renaissance Man
Robert A. Heinlein, Hugo award-winning science fiction writier and author of Starship Troopers and Stranger in a Strange Land:
“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
Blaise Pascal, mathematician, physicist, and religious philosopher:
“Since we cannot know all that there is to be known about anything, we ought to know a little about everything.”
Polykarp Kusch, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1955 for contributions to quantum electrodynamics:
“I feel, sometimes, as the renaissance man must have felt in finding new riches at every point and in the certainty that unexplored areas of knowledge and experience await at every turn.”
Dennis Flanagan, editor of Scientific American for 37 years:
“In an age of specialization people are proud to be able to do one thing well, but if that is all they know about, they are missing out on much else life has to offer… I like the idea of being a Renaissance hack. If tombstones were still in style, I would want to have the two words chiseled right under my name.”
Thanks for posting this. At least now I don’t feel like a multi-tasking monster. And that it is normal to have so many of everything to do, from laundry to sales meeting.
It was serendipity when I read this entry. I had just used the same quote to argue that Personal Branding for Tech Professionals misses the point of brands. Brands are for picking when you don’t know much about the choice and you are seekign a reputation. I had to comment. Just had to share that minds think a like.
Note: It would not be humble to say “great” since we all are midgets standing on the shoulders of giants. imho!
Another bit of serendipity. I happen to be re-reading “Time Enough for Love” right now. How amazing that I stumbled upon your blog! (via diamondssuck.com).