--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The university's business is the…" description: "\"The university's business is the conservation of useless knowledge; and what the university itself apparently fails to see is that this enterprise is n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/albert-j-nock-9816_apparently_the-university-s-business-is-the-conserv_1579600.png" --- # The university's business is the conservation of useless… ![“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 only noble but indispensable as well, that society can not exist unless it goes on.” quote by Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/albert-j-nock-9816_apparently_the-university-s-business-is-the-conserv_1579600.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/albert-j-nock-9816_apparently_the-university-s-business-is-the-conserv_1579600.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/albert-j-nock-9816_apparently_the-university-s-business-is-the-conserv_1579600.png) > “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 only noble but indispensable as well, that society can not exist unless it goes on.” [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. Universities preserve knowledge that seems useless but is essential for civilization's continuity. **In simple terms:** Useless knowledge is actually vital for society. Key Takeaway Value and protect academic institutions. Themes education knowledge society civilization Mood reflective critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - academic reform - public discourse - civic education Key Concepts epistemology social contract institutional importance Questions to Reflect On - What role does academia play in shaping future values? A Different Perspective If knowledge is truly useless, why do societies invest heavily in universities? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apparently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apparently/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Conservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservation/) [Conservation Useless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservation-useless-5964568/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise/) [Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist/) [Fails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fails/) [Goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes/) [Indispensable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indispensable/) [Indispensable Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indispensable-society-4322741/) [Itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/itself/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [University Apparently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university-apparently-5964569/) [University Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university-business-4715329/) [Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless/) [Useless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useless/) [Useless knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useless-knowledge/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) ## Related quotes > [Ideology... is indispensable in any society if men are to be formed, transformed and equipped to respond to the demands of their conditions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-althusser/ideology-is-indispensable-in-any-society-if-men-are-to-be-formed/) [Louis Althusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-althusser/) > [I went to Huddersfield University Business School. That's where I learned my trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-james-collier/i-went-to-huddersfield-university-business-school-that-s-where-i/) [Rob James-Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-james-collier/) > [If you're looking to become an entrepreneur then don't waste your time going to university or business school - just get on and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/if-you-re-looking-to-become-an-entrepreneur-then-don-t-waste-your/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Sins are indispensable to every society organized on an ecclesiastical basis; they are the only reliable weapons of power; the priest lives upon sins;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/sins-are-indispensable-to-every-society-organized-on-an/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Considered now as a possession, one may define culture as the residuum of a large body of useless knowledge that has been well and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/considered-now-as-a-possession-one-may-define-culture-as-the-residuum/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [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/) > [“I must confess that most modern mysticism seems to me to be simply a method of imparting useless knowledge in a form that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-must-confess-that-most-modern-mysticism-seems-to-me-to-be-simply-a/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [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/) > [“Something went greatly wrong in our collective history and the starting point of it was the industrial revolution. Our school systems are focussed on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martinus-hendrikus-benders/something-went-greatly-wrong-in-our-collective-history-and-the/) [Martinus Hendrikus Benders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martinus-hendrikus-benders/) > [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/) > [“This is the paradox of historical knowledge. Knowledge that does not change behaviour is useless. But knowledge that changes behaviour quickly loses its relevance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/this-is-the-paradox-of-historical-knowledge-knowledge-that-does-not/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“The secret is not to avoid learning useless knowledge. It’s to make use of whatever knowledge you have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/the-secret-is-not-to-avoid-learning-useless-knowledge-it-s-to-make/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [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/) ## 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 Apparently quotes > [Like funny men, skilled diners are apparently perceived to have an evolutionary advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/like-funny-men-skilled-diners-are-apparently-perceived-to-have-an/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [Some pundits have proposed that the aliens have come here to breed with us. Apparently, too much bike riding or something similar has rendered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/some-pundits-have-proposed-that-the-aliens-have-come-here-to-breed/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [I'm not in the movie business anymore, and hardly any 70 year olds are. 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Always. And apparently they live a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/there-will-always-be-ladies-who-lunch-always-and-apparently-they-live/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I could draw up a list of about 30 artists who I apparently sound like. 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