In the end, the distinction is between bee-keepers and bee-havers, well expressed here:

Not all beekeepers are truly bee-keepers. Some are bee-havers. The latter develop an initial enthusiasm, acquire some bees, and work with them for a while, eventually losing interest. They never develop any real knowledge or skill. In the end, they have bees, perhaps a colony in the backyard, but are not really keeping bees.  — Sanford, Malcolm T., and Richard E. Bonney. Storey's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees: Honey Production, Pollination, Health. Storey Publishing, 2018.

Perhaps less recently, but still relevant, was this admonition about unmanaged bees:

Probably one-third of all the bees in the United States are in hives without movable combs, and to assist the owners of such colonies to get them in proper hives this bulletin is prepared. Various methods are given, some one of which will be possible to any beekeeper, so that there is no reason for delay in making the bees productive. Unless the bees are properly managed after transfer there is little advantage in movable-frame hives. This requires a study of beekeeping as well as promptness and care. — Sechrist, Edward Lloyd. Transferring bees to modern hives. 1918.

Of course, if one wants to go back further than that, one can get all sorts of misinformation. And yet, even 250 years ago, beekeepers knew more about bees than a lot of bee-havers. I refer fondly to:

Wildman, Thomas. A Treatise on the Management of Bees, 1768.

PLB 

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