I teach in the medical school, the School of Public Health, the

The words of Michael Porter—“I teach in the medical school, the School of Public Health, the Kennedy School of Government, and the Business School. And it’s the best perch... because most of my work crosses boundaries.”—speak with the strength of one who has seen that wisdom cannot be caged within a single discipline. His declaration is not only a statement of his profession, but a testimony to the truth that knowledge is most powerful when it flows freely across borders, uniting fields that others keep apart. For in a world of divisions, the one who dares to cross boundaries becomes a bridge, and from that bridge, new paths emerge for humanity.

From the ancients we learn that the greatest minds never belonged wholly to one discipline. Aristotle was at once philosopher, biologist, logician, and teacher of politics. Leonardo da Vinci drew anatomy with the eye of a physician and built machines with the hand of an engineer, all while painting visions that revealed the depths of the soul. These masters understood what Porter expresses: that the world cannot be neatly divided, for life itself is whole, and the problems we face cannot be solved by a single field alone. To perch at the crossing of disciplines is to see further, to speak to more, and to shape the future with greater strength.

Consider the story of Florence Nightingale, who was not only a nurse but also a statistician and social reformer. It was her ability to merge medicine with mathematics and public policy that allowed her to transform military hospitals and reduce death rates. Had she confined herself to one field, her influence would have been limited. By crossing boundaries, she became a force that changed nations. So too does Porter, in his teaching, weave together medicine, public health, government, and business—showing that to heal the body, one must also heal systems, economies, and policies.

The meaning of his words is also heroic in its humility. To call his position “the best perch” is to recognize that true power lies not in domination but in perspective. From such a perch, one sees the connections that others overlook. The doctor may heal an individual, but the public health scholar prevents illness in thousands. The government leader sets policy, but the business strategist ensures that resources are used wisely. To unite them all is to create a vision of progress that is complete.

This is a teaching about courage. For it is easy to remain within the comfort of one’s chosen field, to become expert in a narrow space and ignore the rest. But the great challenges of humanity—disease, poverty, inequality, climate—are not narrow. They are vast, complex, and intertwined. Only those willing to cross boundaries, to endure the discomfort of multiple worlds, can begin to solve them. Porter’s words are a call for each of us to resist the temptation of narrowness and instead cultivate the courage to learn broadly, to stand at the crossroads of knowledge.

The lesson for us is eternal: do not let yourself be confined. Whatever your craft, your work, your passion—seek to see it in relation to the wider whole. A teacher should learn from physicians, a scientist should listen to poets, a leader should heed the wisdom of ordinary people. Respect each boundary, but never worship it, for the truth lies in the places where worlds meet. To live this way is to live not as a fragment, but as a whole person who serves the whole world.

Practical action is within reach: read beyond your own field, seek mentors from different disciplines, and when you work, ask how your efforts touch other realms of life. If you are a student, do not study only for exams—study also for life. If you are a professional, look beyond the narrowness of your role and see the larger impact of your actions. By doing this, you too will find your own “best perch,” a place where you can see the broad horizon and act with wisdom.

So let Michael Porter’s words stand as a beacon: the power of knowledge grows when it crosses boundaries. Do not let your mind be chained by divisions, but seek the union of many worlds. For in this union lies the strength to heal, to build, to govern, and to transform. And from such a perch, you too may see far and act greatly, leaving behind a legacy that endures.