On Jack of all Trades, a Passage -- by Alex Ranieri

We regard ‘Jack of all Trades’ with pity and distrust—but when one really considers, the gargantuan and multifaceted operation of keeping even just oneself clothed, fed, and sheltered, and how helpless we are made by ignorance of even one of these facets—and how imperative it is to the raising of competent children, who will raise thereafter competent future generations, that we be at least somewhat competent in all these facets ourselves—and how impossible it is to devote every hour to one pursuit, without the inevitable burnout of diminishing returns—and how starkly this burnout is reflected back to us, from land too long lashed to one purpose—perhaps, on this consideration, we might look more kindly on poor Jack, and take him more often for our model.