Complexity and obscurity have professional value - they…
“Complexity and obscurity have professional value - they are the academic equivalents of apprenticeship rules in the building trades. They exclude the outsiders, keep down the competition, preserve the image of a privileged or priestly class. The man who makes things clear is a scab. He is criticized less for his clarity than for his treachery.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Complexity and jargon serve to protect professional status, excluding outsiders and preserving elite power; clarity is seen as betrayal.
In simple terms: Obscure language keeps power structures intact; clear communication is punished.
Key Takeaway
Promote clarity, challenge exclusivity.
Themes
power
communication
elitism
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
sociopolitical
professional
When to use this quote
- academic publishing
- corporate meetings
- policy drafting
- education
- public discourse
Key Concepts
sociology
economics
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do institutions favor complexity?
- How can you communicate clearly without backlash?
A Different Perspective
Clarity may be dismissed as naïve or disruptive.