"
Jack of all trades, but master of none", was the phrase used to describe the
bard PC class in the
1st edition
AD&D player's handbook.
Problem was that
bards quickly rose above the restraint of this phrase. Game designers drafted bards as an afterthought and didn't look far enough ahead. In the hands of a
number crunching player, a
bard became the MASTER of all trades, with comparably low
XP. This trend/feature continued in all
D&D editions until it was "fixed" in 3rd edition.
"patient bard" means "god" in the language of all munchkins.