--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you think the cost of education is…" description: "\"If you think the cost of education is high, think about ignorance.\" — Derek Bok" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/derek-bok-13117_cost_if-you-think-the-cost-of-education-is-hi_3009679.png" --- # If you think the cost of education is high, think about… ![“If you think the cost of education is high, think about ignorance.” quote by Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/derek-bok-13117_cost_if-you-think-the-cost-of-education-is-hi_3009679.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/derek-bok-13117_cost_if-you-think-the-cost-of-education-is-hi_3009679.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/derek-bok-13117_cost_if-you-think-the-cost-of-education-is-hi_3009679.png) > “If you think the cost of education is high, think about ignorance.” [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Education costs are high, but ignorance is far more expensive. **In simple terms:** Ignorance costs more than schooling. Key Takeaway Invest in learning to avoid ignorance. Themes education ignorance value Mood concerned optimistic Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - policy making - personal development - career planning Key Concepts economics knowledge economy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies reduce educational barriers? - What lifelong learning paths exist? A Different Perspective High tuition may limit access. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [We have been restraining the growth of the cost of education-that is, tuition, room and board-to be within approximately one and a half percentage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-been-restraining-the-growth-of-the-cost-of-education-that-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Paying the high cost of education is better than paying the high price of ignorance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/paying-the-high-cost-of-education-is-better-than-paying-the-high/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [Just like a house is worth whatever a bank's going to lend against it, an education is worth whatever the bank is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/just-like-a-house-is-worth-whatever-a-bank-s-going-to-lend-against-it/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [When you're working on a novel, you never think about how much it would cost to shoot one of your scenes. But that's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/when-you-re-working-on-a-novel-you-never-think-about-how-much-it/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [Don't think of cost. Think of value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/don-t-think-of-cost-think-of-value/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [Dont think of cost. Think of value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-think-of-cost-think-of-value/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Luxury is research in quality. It's quality with no compromise. What does that mean? That you don't think about how much something will cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pier-luigi-loro-piana/luxury-is-research-in-quality-it-s-quality-with-no-compromise-what/) [Pier Luigi Loro Piana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pier-luigi-loro-piana/) > [The cost of an education is high - but not as expensive as ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/the-cost-of-an-education-is-high-but-not-as-expensive-as-ignorance/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I guess it's easier to bash rap artists than to talk about the country's real problems, such as the AIDS crisis, poverty, the cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bushwick-bill/i-guess-it-s-easier-to-bash-rap-artists-than-to-talk-about-the/) [Bushwick Bill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bushwick-bill/) > [Nevertheless, (Jefferson) believed that the habit of skepticism is an essential prerequisite for responsible citizenship. 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There are those who think they're too high and those who think they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-prelutsky/where-taxes-are-concerned-there-are-two-clear-cut-points-of-view/) [Burt Prelutsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-prelutsky/) > [When I have a creative insight, there is a high. I think back in the day, I made music as much as I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/when-i-have-a-creative-insight-there-is-a-high-i-think-back-in-the/) [Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/) ## More by Derek Bok > [Doctoral training is devoted almost entirely to learning to do research, even though most Ph.Ds who enter academic life spend far more time teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/doctoral-training-is-devoted-almost-entirely-to-learning-to-do/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [I think it's sort of an outrage that companies should have to hire firms to teach the college graduates they employ how to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/i-think-it-s-sort-of-an-outrage-that-companies-should-have-to-hire/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [As countries embrace mass higher education, the cost of maintaining universities increases dramatically relative to an elite system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/as-countries-embrace-mass-higher-education-the-cost-of-maintaining/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [“surveys show that over 90 percent of professors believe that their teaching is above average,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/surveys-show-that-over-90-percent-of-professors-believe-that-their/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [For some students, especially in the sciences, the knowledge gained in college may be directly relevant to graduate study. For almost all students, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/for-some-students-especially-in-the-sciences-the-knowledge-gained-in/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [There is far too much law for those who can afford it and far too little for those who cannot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/there-is-far-too-much-law-for-those-who-can-afford-it-and-far-too/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [An educated man must have a "curiosity in exploring the unfamiliar and unexpected, an open-mindedness in entertaining opposing points of view, tolerance for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/an-educated-man-must-have-a-curiosity-in-exploring-the-unfamiliar-and/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [Once you start worrying about a national football championship, then you begin to worry about getting the quality of athlete, and the numbers needed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/once-you-start-worrying-about-a-national-football-championship-then/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [I think any self-respecting educational institution ought to judge its policies by its best estimate of what their long-term consequences for their students and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/i-think-any-self-respecting-educational-institution-ought-to-judge/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [I think the minority students that we admit to Harvard are every bit as meritorious as the white students that we admit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/i-think-the-minority-students-that-we-admit-to-harvard-are-every-bit/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [There's a great deal of difference between thinking reflectively about moral issues and achieving higher standards of ethical behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/there-s-a-great-deal-of-difference-between-thinking-reflectively/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [Critics of American colleges typically attribute the failings of undergraduate education to a tendency on the part of professors to neglect their teaching to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/critics-of-american-colleges-typically-attribute-the-failings-of/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [Early admission programs tend to advantage the advantaged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/early-admission-programs-tend-to-advantage-the-advantaged/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [Universities are institutions run by amateurs to train professionals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/universities-are-institutions-run-by-amateurs-to-train-professionals/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [The oldest of the arts and the youngest of the professions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/the-oldest-of-the-arts-and-the-youngest-of-the-professions/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) [Explore all 51 Derek Bok quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) ## More Cost quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. 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If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I believe that government is too large, costs too much, spends too much, and has too much regulatory power in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-walberg/i-believe-that-government-is-too-large-costs-too-much-spends-too-much/) [Tim Walberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-walberg/) > [One reason for the tremendous increase in health-care costs in the U.S. is managerial neglect of the "hotel services" by the people who dominate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/one-reason-for-the-tremendous-increase-in-health-care-costs-in-the-u/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [They brought on someone who cost more than our stadium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/they-brought-on-someone-who-cost-more-than-our-stadium/) [Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/) > [When the government pays, health care's lack of affordability becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. In health care, as in other things, government is the high-cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-kling/when-the-government-pays-health-care-s-lack-of-affordability-becomes/) [Arnold Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-kling/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The term 'cost shifting,' as I use it, refers to those items in a university's budget that used to be reimbursed by the federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-term-cost-shifting-as-i-use-it-refers-to-those-items-in-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Beauty's a doubtful good, a glass, a flower, Lost, faded, broken, dead within an hour; And beauty, blemish'd once, for ever's lost, In spite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/beauty-s-a-doubtful-good-a-glass-a-flower-lost-faded-broken-dead/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) Browse all 3,987 Cost quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you think the cost of education is high, think about ignorance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Derek Bok" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/if-you-think-the-cost-of-education-is-high-think-about-ignorance/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cost" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/if-you-think-the-cost-of-education-is-high-think-about-ignorance/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/derek-bok-13117_cost_if-you-think-the-cost-of-education-is-hi_3009679.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/derek-bok-13117_cost_if-you-think-the-cost-of-education-is-hi_3009679.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/derek-bok-13117_cost_if-you-think-the-cost-of-education-is-hi_3009679.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you think the cost of education is high, think about ignorance.” — Derek Bok", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Derek Bok", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you think the cost of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/if-you-think-the-cost-of-education-is-high-think-about-ignorance/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/if-you-think-the-cost-of-education-is-high-think-about-ignorance/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```