Indicação do livro Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.
comentada em 17/06/2020 06:08

ufa, sempre fui generalista. brincadeira. não teria cabeça para ser um especialista, só falar um coisa e conhecer uma coisa. prefiro nao saber nada sobre varias coisas

The complete saying was originally “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” Formerly intended as a compliment, the phrase means that a person is a generalist rather than a specialist, versatile and adept at many things.

In current usage, however, the phrase is usually meant sarcastically and most decidedly not a compliment. Calling someone a “jack of all trades” implies that a person isn't very skillful in any of the areas in which he claims expertise. His knowledge or skills are superficial rather than comprehensive. He just dabbles, especially in areas in which an expert is needed or preferred.

A master of a trade was trained by a master for a long time. A Jack of all trades was someone who knew much about how to do things, but had not mastered any one trade. Masters charged a lot of money. Jacks charged much less. The masters wanted you to know that the Jacks hadn’t mastered their trade.

Example: Billy Bob does plumbing, carpentry, and roofing. He thinks he’s a real jack of all trades — but he isn't very good at any of them.

Story: I know how to install an electrical outlet. So when my wife wanted an outlet near some switch, I assured her that I could do it — no problem. Then I took the electrical plate off the switch, and I saw the mess of wires all hooked up to the switch. I immediately changed my mind. I closed up shop and suggested she get an electrician. I was a Jack. She needed a master. (You have to know that you don’t know.)

“Jack” doesn’t refer to any particular person; it has been used in English to mean simply a/the ‘common man’ since the 14th century.