The Hedgehog and the Fox is a fable written in 1963 by philosopher Isaiah Berlin as a kind of intellectual game. Berlin was inspired by an aphorism attributed to the Greek poet Archilochus, saying, "the fox knows many things; the hedgehog one big thing."
The fable goes, more or less, like follow.
A fox and a hedgehog talk about the annoying farmer's dog that kept harassing them.
The fox brags, "He's not a problem to me. I have at least fifty ways of getting away from him."
To which the hedgehog replies, "I know only one way. I curl up in a tight ball."
Just then, they hear a noise in the brush, and suddenly, the dog appears rushing toward them. The hedgehog curls in a ball, and the dog, no matter how hard he tries, can't get through the phalanx of spines. So, he points toward the fox, who was still busy debating which of his many tricks to use. The dog grabs him, and the fox barely escapes with less fur and a few new scars.
You've probably heard this fable in this form or others. It is usually used to push the idea that instead of wasting time on many ideas, you should find your big thing, the one you do very well and put all your energy into it. At least, this is how I learned about it during an online webinar.
However, thanks to this paper by Peter Maurice Vanden Bosch of the University of Portland, I discovered that the fable does not end there.
After the incident, the fox and hedgehog meet again and talk.
That was some beating you took. I hope you
learned your lesson." says the hedgehog to the battered fox.
Before the fox can answer, they hear a noise.
The hedgehog immediately applies his trick and curls up in a ball.
Only this time, a Clydesdale horse leaps out of the brush and stomps him flat.
Sometimes, having only one strategy is not enough.
Sure, if you know exactly what lies ahead, then doing one thing exceptionally well is perfect. But that's a big if, particularly in a world that is more and more uncertain.
However, although fun, scattering your energy in many alternative directions may not be very efficient or productive.
The good thing is that you are neither a fox nor a hedgehog. So, you can choose your way of navigating reality depending on the situation.