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 and
die gallantly. ~ Robert Heinlein
I caught myself wondering from reading that list, how Heinlein, a person born in 1907, came up with a list that has so well stood the test of time.
I read that list today and find it amazing that I have personally done all of those things; but for dying gallantly, which I do not intend to do before I try bungee jumping and sky diving. I haven't butchered a hog either.
Clearly, Heinlein was not a PhD or a post-Doc scholar - for the remaining part of that quote is: "Specialization is for insects."
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