--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never did I think that the university was…" description: "\"Never did I think that the university was properly ministerial to the society around it. Rather I thought and think that society is ministerial to the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da5/allan-bloom-4105_bless_never-did-i-think-that-the-university-wa_182284.png" --- # Never did I think that the university was properly… ![“Never did I think that the university was properly ministerial to the society around it. Rather I thought and think that society is ministerial to the university, and I bless a society that tolerates and supports an eternal childhood for some, a childhood whose playfulness can in turn be a…” quote by Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da5/allan-bloom-4105_bless_never-did-i-think-that-the-university-wa_182284.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da5/allan-bloom-4105_bless_never-did-i-think-that-the-university-wa_182284.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da5/allan-bloom-4105_bless_never-did-i-think-that-the-university-wa_182284.png) > “Never did I think that the university was properly ministerial to the society around it. Rather I thought and think that society is ministerial to the university, and I bless a society that tolerates and supports an eternal childhood for some, a childhood whose playfulness can in turn be a blessing to society.” [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The university should serve society, not the other way around; society’s support nurtures youthful creativity that benefits all. **In simple terms:** Universities thrive when society supports them, fostering youthful creativity that benefitsAll. Key Takeaway Cultivate societal support for education. Themes education society creativity mutualism Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - community programs - academic partnerships Key Concepts social contract public good lifelong learning Questions to Reflect On - How can universities balance independence with societal needs? - What role does youthful play have in innovation? A Different Perspective Societal expectations may limit academic freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Playfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playfulness/) [Scholarship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholarship/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) ## Related quotes > [I bless a society that tolerates and supports an eternal childhood for some, a childhood whose playfulness can, in turn, be a blessing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/i-bless-a-society-that-tolerates-and-supports-an-eternal-childhood/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [I think it's the society that drains us out, and we are in a society where we are driven by money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-besson/i-think-it-s-the-society-that-drains-us-out-and-we-are-in-a-society/) [Luc Besson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-besson/) > [I think that society has to be careful not to shift all of its resources to the elderly versus the young. I get very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-think-that-society-has-to-be-careful-not-to-shift-all-of-its-2/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I think our society is fragmented. Messages regarding human sexuality have always been mixed in America. We are a schizophrenic nation. We were founded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/i-think-our-society-is-fragmented-messages-regarding-human-sexuality/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [In a milieu of resignation, where the young men think of society as a closed room in which there are no values but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/in-a-milieu-of-resignation-where-the-young-men-think-of-society-as-a/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [“Could civil liberties really be a cause, rather than just an effect? I think so. I think a society in which people can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/could-civil-liberties-really-be-a-cause-rather-than-just-an-effect-i/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [I never try and send messages through my feature films; it's always naturally woven in and comes through on its own, as that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoojit-sircar/i-never-try-and-send-messages-through-my-feature-films-it-s-always/) [Shoojit Sircar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoojit-sircar/) > [“No matter how silly I think it all is, society is still society and we are not free of the burdens of hate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/no-matter-how-silly-i-think-it-all-is-society-is-still-society-and-we/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [I thought society would do the right thing. Now I look around and I think -- society never does the right thing. Sometimes people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/i-thought-society-would-do-the-right-thing-now-i-look-around-and-i/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [I think society had to grow up to the mentality of Peter Norman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/i-think-society-had-to-grow-up-to-the-mentality-of-peter-norman/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [I think that society has to be careful not to shift all of its resources to the elderly versus the young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-think-that-society-has-to-be-careful-not-to-shift-all-of-its/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I think society, in general, is hard on women, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hill/i-think-society-in-general-is-hard-on-women-period/) [Faith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hill/) > [I think we as a society, a global community, we as governments, need to figure out ways to combat ISIS, not just as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-heineman/i-think-we-as-a-society-a-global-community-we-as-governments-need-to/) [Matthew Heineman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-heineman/) > [I think, all too often, this society has too monolithic a definition of what a black American is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzodinma-iweala/i-think-all-too-often-this-society-has-too-monolithic-a-definition-of/) [Uzodinma Iweala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzodinma-iweala/) > [If my wisdom could get support from officials, I think society would move forward 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangbiao/if-my-wisdom-could-get-support-from-officials-i-think-society-would/) [Chen Guangbiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangbiao/) ## More by Allan Bloom > [There is one thing a professor can be absolutely certain of: almost every student entering the university believes, or says he believes, that truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/there-is-one-thing-a-professor-can-be-absolutely-certain-of-almost/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [Authentic values are those by which a life can be lived, which can form a people that produces great deeds and thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/authentic-values-are-those-by-which-a-life-can-be-lived-which-can/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [Shakespeare's naturalness is attested to by the strange fact that he is the only classical author who remains popular. The critical termites are massed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/shakespeare-s-naturalness-is-attested-to-by-the-strange-fact-that-he/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [The utilitarian behaves sensibly in all that is required for preservation but never takes account of the fact that he must die...His whole life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/the-utilitarian-behaves-sensibly-in-all-that-is-required-for/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [The longing for Europe has been all but extinguished in the young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/the-longing-for-europe-has-been-all-but-extinguished-in-the-young/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [Students now arrive at the university ignorant and cynical about our political heritage, lacking the wherewithal to be either inspired by it or seriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/students-now-arrive-at-the-university-ignorant-and-cynical-about-our/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [Human nature must not be altered in order to have a problem-free world. Man is not just a problem-solving being, as behaviorists would wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/human-nature-must-not-be-altered-in-order-to-have-a-problem-free/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [Reason cannot establish values, and its belief that it can is the stupidiest and most pernicious illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/reason-cannot-establish-values-and-its-belief-that-it-can-is-the/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [Fathers and mothers have lost the idea that the highest aspiration they might have for their children is for them to be wise... specialized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/fathers-and-mothers-have-lost-the-idea-that-the-highest-aspiration/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [As Western nations became more prosperous, leisure, which had been put off for several centuries in favor of the pursuit of property, the means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/as-western-nations-became-more-prosperous-leisure-which-had-been-put/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [Historicism and cultural relativism actually are a means to avoid testing our own prejudices and asking, for example, whether men are really equal or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/historicism-and-cultural-relativism-actually-are-a-means-to-avoid/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [“Man requires a healing education which returns him to himself. Rousseau's paradoxes- his attack on the arts and the sciences and his practice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/man-requires-a-healing-education-which-returns-him-to-himself/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [The failure to read good books both enfeebles the vision and strengthens our most fatal tendency - the belief that the here and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/the-failure-to-read-good-books-both-enfeebles-the-vision-and/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [Life, liberty, and the pursuit of property were just what Aristotle did not talk about. They are the conditions of happiness; but the essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/life-liberty-and-the-pursuit-of-property-were-just-what-aristotle-did/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [Education is not sermonizing to children against their instincts and pleasures, but providing a natural continuity between what they feel and what they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/education-is-not-sermonizing-to-children-against-their-instincts-and/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) [Explore all 116 Allan Bloom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) ## More Bless quotes > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Let death bless me with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-death-bless-me-with-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Choosing a job or business is the same thing. I'm not the best one to advise someone how to make billions of dollars; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/choosing-a-job-or-business-is-the-same-thing-i-m-not-the-best-one-to/) [Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/) > [The word of the Lord is this: "Just bless those that persecute you and ask for Justice, for the battle does not belong to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-loren/the-word-of-the-lord-is-this-just-bless-those-that-persecute-you-and/) Julia Loren > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [May god bless u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette/may-god-bless-u/) [Antoinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoinette/) > [SCIENCE! thou fair effusive ray From the great source of mental Day, Free, generous, and refin'd! Descend with all thy treasures fraught, Illumine each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-akenside/science-thou-fair-effusive-ray-from-the-great-source-of-mental-day/) [Mark Akenside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-akenside/) > [When we lack integrity, we use power to control. When we lead with integrity, we use power to bless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/when-we-lack-integrity-we-use-power-to-control-when-we-lead-with/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [“Be quick to bless but lazy to curse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bamikole/be-quick-to-bless-but-lazy-to-curse/) [Paul Bamikole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bamikole/) > [The pious farmer, who ne'er misses pray'rs, With patience suffers unexpected rain; He blesses Heav'n for what its bounty spares, And sees, resign'd, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/the-pious-farmer-who-ne-er-misses-pray-rs-with-patience-suffers/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [May God bless you and your family today and always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-god-bless-you-and-your-family-today-and-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I bless the gods for not letting my education in rhetoric, poetry, and other literary studies come easily to me, and thereby sparing me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/i-bless-the-gods-for-not-letting-my-education-in-rhetoric-poetry-and/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“ I'm here to bless not to impress”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/i-m-here-to-bless-not-to-impress/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [How many people you bless is how you measure success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/how-many-people-you-bless-is-how-you-measure-success/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) Browse all 1,218 Bless quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never did I think that the university was properly ministerial to the society around it. 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