Whenever I see an English proverb, I'm convinced it's wise and witty and true, and I vow to incorporate that wisdom into my day-to-day life. At the same time, though, part of me rebels. "Don't tell me what to do," I whisper furiously at the proverb. "I'm sure your creator didn't practice what he preached."
This week's proverb is one of those proverbs that brings out my more rebellious side, partly because it's a favorite of all parents around the world, particularly mine. "Jack of all trades, master of none" means if someone has too many jobs, or does too many different things, that person won't ever be able to excel in any one of them. Basically it's telling us to concentrate on one thing.
My father is a horse rider. He took part in the Montreal Olympics and now he's the manager of the Japanese equestrian team. He was a master at riding. He used to ride every day of the year and he used to think of nothing but horses 24/7. So in some respects, you could say he was a "Jack of one trade, master of no other."
This "master" father tried to pass down his work ethic to his daughter, who, despite his repeatedly telling her to stick to one thing, managed to change jobs every other month. And not just jobs. "Trades" in this proverb doesn't just mean "jobs" or "occupations" but it also means interests and pastimes. The proverb warns against becoming a dilettante. I managed to change hobbies every other month as well. For example, one month I'd be into African drums, the next I'd be training for the pentathlon.
Now, though it pains me to say it, I think my father was right. All I can do, with some degree of skill, is read, write and eat crisps.
I was recently cheered up, though, by an exhibition called "The Mind of Leonardo - the Universal Genius at Work," which was on in Ueno. There I saw some of Leonardo da Vinci's fabulous paintings, and his numerous notes and sketches, illustrating his interests in everything from physiology to architecture. But mostly I was attracted to the term "Universal Genius." "Is that another way of saying `Jack of all trades,'?" I thought.
I immediately called my father to recommend that he see this exhibition.
Q1 Kana calls her father a "master" of:
A1) Olympics
A2) Horses
A3) Pentathlon
正解： A2) Horses
Q2 A "jack of all trades, master of none" is someone who:
A1) Has more than one job
A2) Has no specialty because they try too many things
A3) Someone who can do everything from physiology to architecture
正解： A2) Has no specialty because they try too many things
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