A Jack of All Trades by Medha

“A jack of all trades is a master of none.” 

I’m 100% sure you’ve heard this quote,

but I’m going to prove you wrong.

Aristotle is the one,

Who makes me note,

That perhaps that is not all, as the real quote is quite long,

Much, much longer than that. The real quote is completely different, but we have manipulated it to confine our curiosity. To smother our senses. To drown our dreams.

Aristotle—I’m sure everyone has heard of him. But, looking at what he has done, there’s so much to learn. He found inspiration from those around him—his father, his teacher, his student. He taught us that learning happens constantly and that in reality, everyone is a teacher; and everyone is a student.

Theoretically being a jack of all trades seems easy but mastering multiple things—impossible. Unheard of. Undoable. But Aristotle proves us wrong. Today, he is well known for multiple achievements in distinct fields. He invented the taxonomy system that we use in biology; he developed the scientific method; he founded the proof theory for math; and he wrote books on ethics, logic, and metaphysics. 

Dubbed the father of biology, logic, and psychology, Aristotle is respected by everyone regardless of their backgrounds and cultures. Medieval Muslim scholars know him as the “first teacher.” Thomas Aquinas refers to him as “The Philosopher.” Not any philosopher, but one with a capital “P.” Dante Alighieri calls him the “master of those who know.”

Still, despite his many achievements and the recognition he has gained, Aristotle believed that there was much more out there. “The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know,” Aristotle once said. This mantra repeated over and over in his mind as he hungered to learn more. And more. And more. 

You may think him mad, but “no great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness” (Aristotle). Hear me out, but that makes complete sense. Give me one person who has stood out to you that rose without criticism. You won’t find anyone—because everyone who stands out is crazy enough to go against the grain of society.

Aristotle taught me to do just that. He did a bit of everything and was the best at what he did. He encourages me to do the same. He inspires me to try something new not just to say I could do it, but to master it. He teaches me that knowledge is everywhere—in everyone—we just have to look for it.

He defies the belief that a jack of all trades is a master of none. In doing so, he inspires us to look beyond it. Into the truth. Because really,

A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.