(Nicholas Murry) Butler’s Observation
An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less.
Nicholas Murray Butler is credited with making this observation during one of the many commencement addresses that he delivered as president of Columbia University, which he headed for forty-four years (1901-45).
Bohr’s Amendment. An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field (Niels Henrik David Bohr, as quoted by Edward Teller at the American embassy in London, November 10th 1972).
Gropius’s Rider. Specialists are people who always repeat the same mistakes (Walter Gropius as quoted in Contemporary Architects 1980).
Heisenberg’s Optimistic Reflection. An expert is someone who knows some of the worst mistakes that can be made in his subject and how to avoid them (Werner Heisenberg, Physics and Beyond 1969 A. J. Pomerans tr. 1971).
Warren’s Rule. To spot the expert, pick the one who predicts the job will take the longest and cost the most (in Arthur Bloch The Complete Murphy’s Law 1991).
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