---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are certainly times in history…"
description: "\"There are certainly times in history where power associates itself closely with fields that we would call the humanities, like rulers surrounding thems..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/elliott-colla-15941_academic_there-are-certainly-times-in-history-whe_72291.jpg"
---

#  There are certainly times in history where power…

![“There are certainly times in history where power associates itself closely with fields that we would call the humanities, like rulers surrounding themselves with philosophers and poets, or playwrights. We do not live in that moment, and the best way to gauge the proximity of an academic field to…” quote by Elliott Colla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/elliott-colla-15941_academic_there-are-certainly-times-in-history-whe_72291.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/elliott-colla-15941_academic_there-are-certainly-times-in-history-whe_72291.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/elliott-colla-15941_academic_there-are-certainly-times-in-history-whe_72291.jpg)

> “There are certainly times in history where power associates itself closely with fields that we would call the humanities, like rulers surrounding themselves with philosophers and poets, or playwrights. We do not live in that moment, and the best way to gauge the proximity of an academic field to power is by salary.”

[Elliott Colla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-colla/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote argues that the link between academia and political power is now best measured by financial compensation rather than cultural influence.

**In simple terms:** Power and humanities now measured by salary.

Key Takeaway

Salary indicates academic influence.

Themes

Power dynamics Humanities Economics Cultural influence Academic prestige

Mood

Reflective Critical Analytical

Type

Observation Critique Sociopolitical

When to use this quote

- University funding decisions
- Policy debates on arts funding
- Career choices for scholars
- Public perception of academia

Key Concepts

Power Humanities Salary Influence

Practical Applications

- Evaluating research impact
- Advocating for arts funding

Questions to Reflect On

- How does compensation reflect societal values?
- Can influence be measured beyond money?

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