25 June 2006

Breadth & Depth

"He who knows not and knows not he knows not: he is a fool - shun him.
He who knows not and knows he knows not: he is simple - teach him.
He who knows and knows not he knows: he is asleep - wake him.
He who knows and knows he knows: he is wise - follow him." Anonymous

Breadth and depth are about dimension. In terms of knowledge, the greater the better, but it is almost impossible to have both. Why is it? It's all about time. Everyone has the same 24 hours.

During childhood, everyone has the same breadth and depth since everyone receives more or less the same kind of education. During adolescence, those who are more willling to experience may have either more breadth or depth than those who are inactive. During adulthood, those who manage time more effectively and efficiently may have better dimension than those who manage poorly. For infancy and aging, it is irrelevant. They spend most of the time either in sleep mode or idling.

Which is better though? Breadth, or depth? This is also irrelevant, because it is difficult to have either one. If it has to have an answer, then which is better: one percent better at 100 things, or 100 percent better at one thing?

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