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> jack of all trades, master of none It amuses me that the opening paragraph contains this phrase because I understand it to be longer: > A jack of all trades
by lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 4y ago
> jack of all trades, master of none
It amuses me that the opening paragraph contains this phrase because I understand it to be longer:
> A jack of all trades, master of none, is often better than a master of one.
The longer version speaks in favor of generalists over specialists and the short version is often used as a sentiment (such as in this case) of the opposite; that generalists are somehow worse than specialists because they "master" nothing. Funny how language changes like that.
- legerdemain 4y agoThe extended "original" versions of several idioms, including this one, were created in the 21st century. See, for example, this: https://english.stackexchange.com/a/508907 https://english.stackexchange.com/a/508907
- lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 4y ago> But it seems more likely that the extra-long version was a very recent formulation, perhaps influenced by the memory of a concerted effort by educators in 1930 to alter the old adage to suit a new objective. That does indeed seem likely. Admittedly, I see myself as a generalist so I have a bias towards the new version even if it's not the historical sentiment. Thanks for the read!