Charlie Munger: "The correct path for everybody else is..." | Daily Journal 2017 【C:C.M Ep.252】

 

[Transcript]

AUDIENCE MEMBER: As an 18 year old interested in many disciplines, I was wondering how you can thrive as a polymath in a world that celebrates specialization?

 

CHARLIE MUNGER: Well that’s a good question. I don’t think operating over many disciplines as I do is a good idea for most people. I think it’s fun, that’s why I’ve done it. And I’m better at it than most people would be. And I don’t think I’m good at being the very best at handling differential equations.

 

So it’s in a wonderful path for me, but I think the correct path for everybody else is to specialize and get very good at something that society rewards and get very efficient at doing it.

 

But even if you do that, I think you should spend 10 or 20% of your time into trying to know all the big ideas in all the other disciplines. Otherwise – I use the same phrase over and over again – otherwise you’re like a one legged man in an ass-kicking contest. (Laughter) It’s just not going to work very well. (Laughter)

 

You have to know the big ideas in all the disciplines to be safe if you have a life lived outside a cave. But no, I think you don’t want to neglect your business as a dentist to think great thoughts about Proust. (Laughter)

 

(Source: https://youtu.be/BLctqhNClqY)

 

[YAPSS Takeaway]

Be specialize at something that society rewards and get very efficient at doing it. However, you should also spend 10-20% of your time to learn about other things.