I recently came across a quote attributed to Robert Heinlein that basically says that a man/woman should be able to do almost anything. Specialization is for Insects.

The quote, as it was given to me is as follows:

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.

While on one hand, I really like the quote, and I’ve always been a sucker for a good quote, but I am not sure I totally agree with this one. I have done most of the things in his list (I don’t fight very efficiently, not even in UnReal, which I love, and I haven’t died gallantly yet, unless you do count UnReal.), yet I don’t know that a large percentage of people have even undertaken half of those things. It isn’t that individuals aren’t smart, but that many have become specialized, and we have been somewhat specialized for quite a long time now. Once you get past nomadism, hunters/gathers are a form of specialization. It didn’t mean that hunters couldn’t gather, or vice versa, but each had their preferred role.

Today, higher education is trying, and has been trying with mixed success, to produce “well-rounded” individuals. The poor souls in university must spend their first four semesters or so wallowing in “liberal arts” so that they are exposed to other areas than the ones that they specifically came to study. I am sure that many students should quietly rejoice in this, because it gave them something to think about when they figured out that their chosen course of study is something they never want to hear again in their lifetime. Then again, I’ve had history majors and music majors turn out to be wonderful high-technology consultants. Who would have ever thought that when they were in school.

In our era, few people need all the skills that Mr. Heinlein mentions, let alone all at one time. I do think that a person will be more effective if they can do a majority of the things on that list, and that they will have a much broader understanding of life than the average person. Sadly, such persons are in the vast minority.

This quote was sent to me by a friend named Larry. I am planning a section on interesting quotes and articles that Larry sends me.