I'm sure you know this already, but the word 'amateur' comes from the word 'amore', to love. An amateur originally referred to someone who studied a subject out of pure disinterested love for that subject, as distinct from someone studying for monetary or other ulterior reasons. Amateur scientists, outside the university structure, made some of the most significant discoveries. The word 'amateur' originally carried no disparaging overtones: far from it. So yes, indeed, all of us are amateurs, both in the sense perhaps of fumbling newbies but also in the sense of people open and passionate towards new discoveries, new knowledge.
Thanks Elsa. Lovely post! Here's to us amateurs!
3 CHEERS to us amateurs!
I'm sure you know this already, but the word 'amateur' comes from the word 'amore', to love. An amateur originally referred to someone who studied a subject out of pure disinterested love for that subject, as distinct from someone studying for monetary or other ulterior reasons. Amateur scientists, outside the university structure, made some of the most significant discoveries. The word 'amateur' originally carried no disparaging overtones: far from it. So yes, indeed, all of us are amateurs, both in the sense perhaps of fumbling newbies but also in the sense of people open and passionate towards new discoveries, new knowledge.
Here's to amateurs! 🍾 🥂
I totally agree. And yes, I did know about the history of the word. Great to hear it again.