Deconstructing the phrase "It takes all kinds"

In My Humble Opinion
1

This seems like one of those phrases that has become so idiomatic that it may be pointless to deconstruct it. We use it in the context of derision or disapproval:

Patty: Pat Robertson is nuttier than a squirrel turd.
Bystander: Yeah, it takes all kinds!

Clearly, the bystander is in full agreement. But the phrase still throws me. Strongly implied within the phrase is "It takes all kinds [of people] to [achieve some result].

Most of the Google hits seem to imply something positive about the phrase, like biodiversity (“It takes all kinds of people to make a world”).

Anybody know where this comes from?

2

Apparently it originated in the 1600s as it takes all sorts

3

I always took it to be a phrase you use when someone is very different from you, as a way of shrugging off the difference. Like, “I would never (insert odd behavior), but I guess it takes all kinds.” I believe the full phrase is “It takes all kinds of people to make up the world,” or something similar.

4

I always correct anyone who utters that phrase with “It doesn’t take all kinds…we just have all kinds.” :smiley:

5

I thought that it was an abbreviation of :

“It takes all kinds of people to make the world go round”.

It just means that society depends on people being different from one another so celebrate those differences even if they are off-beat.

6

Yeah – it’s usually a verbal shrug. The bystander using it to indicate agreement with you would definitely throw me as well.

7

In the movie “State & Main”, two guys are sitting at a booth in a diner.

Guy 1: Well, it takes all kinds.

Guy 2 (sarcastically): Oh, is that what it takes? I was wondering what it took.

Very funny.

8

[QUOTE=twickster]
Yeah – it’s usually a verbal shrug. The bystander using it to indicate agreement with you would definitely throw me as well.
[/QUOTE]

I don’t think the bystander was completely agreeing. I think he was agreeing that he was nutty, but not malicious, which I’m guessing was the implication in Patty’s statement.

9

[QUOTE=Trunk]
In the movie “State & Main”, two guys are sitting at a booth in a diner.

Guy 1: Well, it takes all kinds.

Guy 2 (sarcastically): Oh, is that what it takes? I was wondering what it took.

Very funny.
[/QUOTE]

That’s good; I’m going to start using that.

10

[QUOTE=Shagnasty]
I thought that it was an abbreviation of :

“It takes all kinds of people to make the world go round”.

It just means that society depends on people being different from one another so celebrate those differences even if they are off-beat.
[/QUOTE]
Yes, and in the foil of the “other kinds” you can see more about yourself.