“I am not a donkey, I don’t have a field”
The quote “I am not a donkey, I don’t have a field” has been attributed to German sociologist Max Weber. Weber was famous for studying many different and disparate fields in great depth. In his short academic career he published extensively, writing books which are still considered foundational in many fields.
The quote expresses the reason why Weber does not stay in one field – because donkeys stay in their field, and he is not a donkey.
Rhetorically, the word donkey is a metaphor. The word field is a pun – a word with multiple meanings. In this case it can mean the physical field that a donkey is in, and it can also refer to an academic discipline.
By implication, the quote pokes fun at everyone else who does stay in their field – calling them donkeys.
I could not find an authoritative reference to Weber actually ever saying quote, so its provenance is uncertain. This adds a layer of mystery to the quote, which surely enhances its appeal.
Finally – and most importantly – Weber was a polymath – please see my previous post about polymaths and the synergies they can develop by not being confined to a single field.
This quote resonates with me personally because when people ask me why I don’t stay in my original field – Emergency Medicine – I feel like saying, “I am not a donkey, I don’t have a field.” Evidently, Weber was a good rhetorician too.
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