--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Considered now as a possession, one may…" description: "\"Considered now as a possession, one may define culture as the residuum of a large body of useless knowledge that has been well and truly forgotten.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/albert-j-nock-9816_body_considered-now-as-a-possession-one-may-d_2449212.png" --- # Considered now as a possession, one may define culture as… ![“Considered now as a possession, one may define culture as the residuum of a large body of useless knowledge that has been well and truly forgotten.” quote by Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/albert-j-nock-9816_body_considered-now-as-a-possession-one-may-d_2449212.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/albert-j-nock-9816_body_considered-now-as-a-possession-one-may-d_2449212.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/albert-j-nock-9816_body_considered-now-as-a-possession-one-may-d_2449212.png) > “Considered now as a possession, one may define culture as the residuum of a large body of useless knowledge that has been well and truly forgotten.” [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Culture consists of forgotten knowledge that remains as a residue after being discarded. **In simple terms:** Culture is forgotten knowledge left behind. Key Takeaway Recognize and revive valuable forgotten knowledge. Themes culture knowledge history memory Mood reflective curious Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - education reform - archival research - heritage preservation - media analysis Key Concepts anthropology philosophy sociology Questions to Reflect On - What forgotten ideas could benefit society? - How do we decide which knowledge to preserve? A Different Perspective Not all forgotten knowledge is useful; some may be harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Useless knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useless-knowledge/) ## Related quotes > [“This was true enough, though it did not throw any light upon my perplexity. If we had heard of it to start with, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/this-was-true-enough-though-it-did-not-throw-any-light-upon-my/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [It is better to have useless knowledge than to know nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-better-to-have-useless-knowledge-than-to-know-nothing/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Useless knowledge can be made directly contributory to a force of sound and disinterested public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/useless-knowledge-can-be-made-directly-contributory-to-a-force-of/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The university's business is the conservation of useless knowledge; and what the university itself apparently fails to see is that this enterprise is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-university-s-business-is-the-conservation-of-useless-knowledge/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Life has obliged him to remember so much useful knowledge that he has lost not only his history, but his whole original cargo of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/life-has-obliged-him-to-remember-so-much-useful-knowledge-that-he-has/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [It's where we're nearest to our humanness. Useless knowledge for its own sake. Useful knowledge is good, too, but it's for the faint-hearted, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/it-s-where-we-re-nearest-to-our-humanness-useless-knowledge-for-its/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [There's no such thing as useless knowledge. You never know what doors it's going to open up for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/there-s-no-such-thing-as-useless-knowledge-you-never-know-what-doors/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-much-pleasure-to-be-gained-from-useless-knowledge/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Without power, knowledge is useless. without knowledge, faith is tyranny. Without understanding, humanity is blind, and without all four, it is doomed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-e-modesitt-jr/without-power-knowledge-is-useless-without-knowledge-faith-is-tyranny/) [L.E. Modesitt Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-e-modesitt-jr/) > [Like this gas tank, you are overflowing with preconceptions, full of useless knowledge. You hold many facts and opinions, yet know little of yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/like-this-gas-tank-you-are-overflowing-with-preconceptions-full-of/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [If you are building a corporate culture of greatness, you have to define culture on your own terms and with the people you work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/if-you-are-building-a-corporate-culture-of-greatness-you-have-to/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [The history of ideas is littered with the corpses of those who have tried to define culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-foden/the-history-of-ideas-is-littered-with-the-corpses-of-those-who-have/) [Giles Foden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-foden/) > [Sport is cultural. What the star athlete does helps to define the culture. What the star athlete does on a Canadian team, especially if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-elliott-clarke/sport-is-cultural-what-the-star-athlete-does-helps-to-define-the/) [George Elliott Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-elliott-clarke/) > [We need to define what culture is. Every human being lives within a culture, and culture means "To grow in." It means to literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/we-need-to-define-what-culture-is-every-human-being-lives-within-a/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [“Yet a period’s character does affect individual character. Psychology, the study of what happens in our minds, is tightly interwoven with culture, the name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wolf-shenk/yet-a-period-s-character-does-affect-individual-character-psychology/) [Joshua Wolf Shenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wolf-shenk/) ## More by Albert J. Nock > [The State, on the other hand, both in its genesis and by its primary intention, is purely anti-social. It is not based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-state-on-the-other-hand-both-in-its-genesis-and-by-its-primary/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [When we speak freely, let us speak plainly, for plain speech is wholesome; especially, plain speech about public affairs and public men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/when-we-speak-freely-let-us-speak-plainly-for-plain-speech-is/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The practical reason for freedom is that freedom seems to be the only condition under which any kind of substantial moral fiber can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-practical-reason-for-freedom-is-that-freedom-seems-to-be-the-only/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Like all predatory or parasitic institutions, its first instinct is that of self-preservation. All its enterprises are directed first towards preserving its own life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/like-all-predatory-or-parasitic-institutions-its-first-instinct-is/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The simple truth is that our businessmen do not want a government that will let business alone. They want a government they can use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-simple-truth-is-that-our-businessmen-do-not-want-a-government/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Above all things the mass-mind is most bitterly resentful of superiority. It will not tolerate the thought of an elite; and under a political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/above-all-things-the-mass-mind-is-most-bitterly-resentful-of/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [By consequence I hold that no one ever did, or can do, anything for "society."... Comte invented the term altruism as an antonym for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/by-consequence-i-hold-that-no-one-ever-did-or-can-do-anything-for/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [It is certainly true that whatever a man may do or say, the most significant thing about him is what he thinks; and significant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/it-is-certainly-true-that-whatever-a-man-may-do-or-say-the-most/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The positive testimony of history is that the State invariably had its origin in conquest and confiscation. No primitive State known to history originated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-positive-testimony-of-history-is-that-the-state-invariably-had/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Instead of recognizing the State as ‘the common enemy of all well-disposed, industrious and decent men,’ the run of mankind, with rare exceptions, regards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/instead-of-recognizing-the-state-as-the-common-enemy-of-all-well-2/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [There are two methods, or means, and only two, whereby man's needs and desires can be satisfied. One is the production and exchange of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/there-are-two-methods-or-means-and-only-two-whereby-man-s-needs-and/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Personal publicity of every kind is utterly distasteful to me, and I have made greater efforts to escape it than most people make to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/personal-publicity-of-every-kind-is-utterly-distasteful-to-me-and-i/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [It is interesting to observe that in the year 1935 the average individual's incurious attitude towards the phenomenon of the State is precisely what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/it-is-interesting-to-observe-that-in-the-year-1935-the-average/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [I am said to be difficult of acquaintance, unwilling to meet any one half way, and showing a social manner which is easy, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/i-am-said-to-be-difficult-of-acquaintance-unwilling-to-meet-any-one/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The question of who is right and who is wrong has seemed to me always too small to be worth a moment's thought, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-question-of-who-is-right-and-who-is-wrong-has-seemed-to-me-always/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) [Explore all 70 Albert J. Nock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. 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