If you don't have a hammer, you don't want anything to look like a nail.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- If you only possess one tool, you will see every problem as solvable by that tool.
- In plain terms
- Having only one skill makes you force it into every situation.
- What can you take from it?
- Diversify your skills to avoid narrow thinking.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What tools do you rely on too much?
- How does your expertise limit your view?
Another view
Sometimes a single approach is genuinely the best one for the task.
Related quotes
If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.
Abraham MaslowAbraham Maslow quote #13 I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.
Abraham MaslowAbraham Maslow quote #2 Point of view is worth 80 IQ points
Alan KayAlan Kay quote #23