The famous American actor and philanthropist Paul Newman frequently wondered about what expertise is. Because it suggests a specific set of abilities or knowledge that only a select few possess, he thought that calling someone an expert could be deceptive.

Newman's viewpoint is based on his personal business and acting experiences. Throughout his career as an actor, he never settled into a single role or category; instead, he was constantly learning and developing. In a similar vein, he saw himself as someone who could make a creative and responsible contribution to his food company, Newman's Own, rather than claiming to be an expert in cooking.

Think of expertise as akin to climbing a mountain; just because one person manages to reach the top doesn't imply that they are the only ones who can or that their perspective is better. Everybody climbs the mountain in a different way, with different experiences that have given them special knowledge and abilities to impart to others. Newman's theory that anyone can contribute useful knowledge without being formally recognized as an expert is reflected in this metaphor.

Newman promotes a more flexible and inclusive method of learning and knowledge sharing across a range of fields by challenging the idea of who gets to define expertise. His quotation pushes us to hear different points of view and appreciate the intrinsic worth of different viewpoints and experiences.