--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a rule, the man who can do all things…" description: "\"As a rule, the man who can do all things equally well is a very mediocre individual.\" — Elbert Hubbard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/elbert-hubbard-510_all-things_as-a-rule-the-man-who-can-do-all-things_2257778.png" --- # As a rule, the man who can do all things equally well is a… ![“As a rule, the man who can do all things equally well is a very mediocre individual.” quote by Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/elbert-hubbard-510_all-things_as-a-rule-the-man-who-can-do-all-things_2257778.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/elbert-hubbard-510_all-things_as-a-rule-the-man-who-can-do-all-things_2257778.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/elbert-hubbard-510_all-things_as-a-rule-the-man-who-can-do-all-things_2257778.png) > “As a rule, the man who can do all things equally well is a very mediocre individual.” [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person who spreads effort equally across tasks tends to be average. **In simple terms:** Doing everything equally well leads to mediocrity. Key Takeaway Focus on strengths, not uniformity. Themes specialization mediocrity focus efficiency Mood thoughtful strategic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - skill mastery - project management Key Concepts psychology skill development productivity Questions to Reflect On - What are your core strengths? - How can you balance depth and breadth? A Different Perspective Specialization can limit adaptability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [All things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-things/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Equally Mediocre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equally-mediocre-5182777/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Mediocre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocre/) [Mediocre Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocre-individual-5182776/) [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Rule Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-man-572374/) [Things Equally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-equally-2043740/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Things which are equally bad are also equally good. Try to look at the bright side of things. - Humbug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/things-which-are-equally-bad-are-also-equally-good-try-to-look-at-the-2/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [Rarely, I think, do you find a relationship where you can experience things equally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/rarely-i-think-do-you-find-a-relationship-where-you-can-experience/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [Prudence is but experience, which equal time equally bestows on all men in those things they equally apply themselves unto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/prudence-is-but-experience-which-equal-time-equally-bestows-on-all/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [I am more stupid about some things than others; not equally stupid in all directions; I am not a well-rounded person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/i-am-more-stupid-about-some-things-than-others-not-equally-stupid-in/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [I try very hard to handle things equally: ideas, materials, and images.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-colen/i-try-very-hard-to-handle-things-equally-ideas-materials-and-images/) [Dan Colen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-colen/) > [For if all things were equally in all men, nothing would be prized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/for-if-all-things-were-equally-in-all-men-nothing-would-be-prized/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [“Things which are equally bad are also equally good. Try to look at the bright side of things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/things-which-are-equally-bad-are-also-equally-good-try-to-look-at-the/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [I like a lot of different things equally, with no boundaries, and in a very serious way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-yun/i-like-a-lot-of-different-things-equally-with-no-boundaries-and-in-a/) [Du Yun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-yun/) > [“Let grammar rule the man who doesn’t know how to think what he feels. Let it serve those who are in command when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/let-grammar-rule-the-man-who-doesn-t-know-how-to-think-what-he-feels/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“There is one rule, above all others, for being a man. Whatever comes, face it on your feet.” —ROBERT JORDAN, THE GREAT HUNT ARIA”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-romaniello/there-is-one-rule-above-all-others-for-being-a-man-whatever-comes-2/) [John Romaniello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-romaniello/) > [Play it cool, that's the old school rule man...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/play-it-cool-that-s-the-old-school-rule-man/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [“No man has the right to rule over another man, otherwise such a right necessarily, and immediately becomes the right of the strongest. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/no-man-has-the-right-to-rule-over-another-man-otherwise-such-a-right/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [There is one rule, above all others, for being a man. Whatever comes, face it on your feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/there-is-one-rule-above-all-others-for-being-a-man-whatever-comes/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“Faith, thought O’LiamRoe. And not a decent creature among them thought to say that the only rule in it is for a man to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-dunnett/faith-thought-o-liamroe-and-not-a-decent-creature-among-them-thought/) [Dorothy Dunnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-dunnett/) > [I believe in the Golden Rule - The Man with the Gold... Rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-t/i-believe-in-the-golden-rule-the-man-with-the-gold-rules/) [Mr. T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-t/) ## More by Elbert Hubbard > [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The highest reward that God gives us for good work is the ability to do better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-highest-reward-that-god-gives-us-for-good-work-is-the-ability-to/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Art is nothing; it's a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/art-is-nothing-it-s-a-way/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The poor and ignorant will continue to lie and steal as long as the rich and educated show them how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-poor-and-ignorant-will-continue-to-lie-and-steal-as-long-as-the/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private individuals will occasionally kill theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/so-long-as-governments-set-the-example-of-killing-their-enemies/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [If I supply you with a thought, you may remember it and you may not. But if I can make you think a thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-i-supply-you-with-a-thought-you-may-remember-it-and-you-may-not/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 A conservative is a man who is too cowardly to fight and too fat to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/1-2-3-4-5-a-conservative-is-a-man-who-is-too-cowardly-to-fight-and/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The great man is not so great as folks think, and the dull man is not quite so stupid as he seems. The difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-great-man-is-not-so-great-as-folks-think-and-the-dull-man-is-not/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Every knock is a boost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/every-knock-is-a-boost/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [What boy well raised can compare with your street gamin who has the knowledge and the shrewdness of a grown-up broker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/what-boy-well-raised-can-compare-with-your-street-gamin-who-has-the/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Don't make excuses, make good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/don-t-make-excuses-make-good/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [What people need and what they want may be very different… Teachers are those who educate the people to appreciate the things they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/what-people-need-and-what-they-want-may-be-very-different-teachers/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Men who sit back and pride themselves on their culture haven't any to speak of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/men-who-sit-back-and-pride-themselves-on-their-culture-haven-t-any-to/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) [Explore all 506 Elbert Hubbard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## More All things quotes > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [Dear God, I trust that no matter what happens in my life, it is for my highest good. And no matter what happens in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/dear-god-i-trust-that-no-matter-what-happens-in-my-life-it-is-for-my/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Moderation, honey, in all things but love and chocolate. That's my motto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bretton/moderation-honey-in-all-things-but-love-and-chocolate-that-s-my-motto/) [Barbara Bretton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bretton/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/standing-as-a-witness-in-all-things-means-being-kind-in-all-things/) [Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/) > [The eternal principle, which never was born, never will die: it is in all things: it is in you now. You are the wave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-eternal-principle-which-never-was-born-never-will-die-it-is-in/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The U.S. Army has recently removed the cross from the insignia worn by chaplains. In its place is a sun with its rays, symbolizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murray/the-u-s-army-has-recently-removed-the-cross-from-the-insignia-worn-by/) [Chris Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murray/) > [...God does not possess a private knowledge of Himself and a separate knowledge of all the creatures in common. The universal Cause, by knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/god-does-not-possess-a-private-knowledge-of-himself-and-a-separate/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) [Browse all 2,486 All things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a rule, the man who can do all things equally well is a very mediocre individual.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elbert Hubbard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/as-a-rule-the-man-who-can-do-all-things-equally-well-is-a-very/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "All things" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/as-a-rule-the-man-who-can-do-all-things-equally-well-is-a-very/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/elbert-hubbard-510_all-things_as-a-rule-the-man-who-can-do-all-things_2257778.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/elbert-hubbard-510_all-things_as-a-rule-the-man-who-can-do-all-things_2257778.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/elbert-hubbard-510_all-things_as-a-rule-the-man-who-can-do-all-things_2257778.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As a rule, the man who can do all things equally well is a very mediocre individual.” — Elbert Hubbard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Elbert Hubbard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As a rule, the man who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/as-a-rule-the-man-who-can-do-all-things-equally-well-is-a-very/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/as-a-rule-the-man-who-can-do-all-things-equally-well-is-a-very/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```