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No man can be a pure specialist without being in the strict sense an idiot.
George Bernard Shaw
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Specialization can limit a person's perspective and intelligence.

George Bernard Shaw suggests that a narrow focus on specialization may lead to a lack of broader understanding, ultimately rendering an individual ignorant of the bigger picture. In emphasizing the importance of well-rounded knowledge, Shaw advocates for a balance between expertise and general wisdom, highlighting that true intelligence involves a comprehensive understanding of various fields.

Themes

SpecializationWisdomKnowledgeUnderstandingBalance

In practice

Example use cases

Discussing the importance of a liberal arts education in a speech.

More from George Bernard Shaw

What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
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Marriage is good enough for the lower classes: they have facilities for desertion that are denied to us.
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Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature!
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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