"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.