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About this quote

What does it mean?
Huxley advises balancing broad general knowledge with deep expertise in at least one area.
In plain terms
Learn a bit about everything and a lot about one thing.
What can you take from it?
Cultivate a wide perspective while mastering a specific domain.

Where it applies

  • career development
  • personal study
  • teaching

Putting it to work

  • take courses outside your major
  • deep dive into one passion

Questions to consider

  • How broad is your current knowledge base?
  • What one thing have you studied deeply?

Another view

Deep expertise can sometimes limit flexibility in changing fields.

More from Thomas Henry Huxley

  1. The primary purpose of a liberal education is to make one's mind a pleasant place in which to spend one's time.

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  2. 'Then the Bishop rose, and in a light scoffing tone, florid and he assured us there was nothing in the idea of evolution; rock-pigeons were what rock-pigeons h…

    Permalink to quote #69
  3. Not far from the invention of fire must rank the invention of doubt.

    Permalink to quote #66

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