--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are dons who care for the intellect…" description: "\"There are dons who care for the intellect and the imagination, and there are priests who care for the spirit; but broadly speaking the function of univ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/029/hugh-kingsmill-30142_care_there-are-dons-who-care-for-the-intellec_2568006.jpg" --- # There are dons who care for the intellect and the… ![“There are dons who care for the intellect and the imagination, and there are priests who care for the spirit; but broadly speaking the function of universities and churches alike is to trim and tame enthusiasm, to suppress curiosity, and, in short, to whittle immortal souls into serviceable props…” quote by Hugh Kingsmill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/029/hugh-kingsmill-30142_care_there-are-dons-who-care-for-the-intellec_2568006.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/029/hugh-kingsmill-30142_care_there-are-dons-who-care-for-the-intellec_2568006.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/029/hugh-kingsmill-30142_care_there-are-dons-who-care-for-the-intellec_2568006.jpg) > “There are dons who care for the intellect and the imagination, and there are priests who care for the spirit; but broadly speaking the function of universities and churches alike is to trim and tame enthusiasm, to suppress curiosity, and, in short, to whittle immortal souls into serviceable props of the established order.” [Hugh Kingsmill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-kingsmill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Institutions often temper enthusiasm and curiosity, turning vibrant minds into compliant tools for the status quo. **In simple terms:** Universities and churches can suppress creativity. Key Takeaway Guard your curiosity, question authority. Themes authority conformity creativity education Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical political When to use this quote - academic research - spiritual practice - career choices - social activism Key Concepts critical thinking institutional critique philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you preserve enthusiasm within structured settings? - When does conformity become beneficial? A Different Perspective Some institutions also nurture innovation and critical inquiry. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Enthusiasm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiasm/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Immortal soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortal-soul/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) ## Related quotes > [“The education of youth belongs to the priests, yet they do not take so much care of instructing them in letters, as in forming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/the-education-of-youth-belongs-to-the-priests-yet-they-do-not-take-so/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [People are fretful about lifestyle retailing because the idea that anyone's immortal soul and deepest longings can be quite so readily anticipated and consolidated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-york/people-are-fretful-about-lifestyle-retailing-because-the-idea-that/) [Peter York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-york/) > [For the people who ostensibly wish me well or are worried about my immortal soul, I say I take it kindly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/for-the-people-who-ostensibly-wish-me-well-or-are-worried-about-my/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Higher than the question of our duration is the question of our deserving. 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Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) ## More by Hugh Kingsmill > [A concern with the perfectibility of mankind is always a symptom of thwarted or perverted development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-kingsmill/a-concern-with-the-perfectibility-of-mankind-is-always-a-symptom-of/) [Hugh Kingsmill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-kingsmill/) > [Friends are Gods apology for relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-kingsmill/friends-are-gods-apology-for-relations/) [Hugh Kingsmill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-kingsmill/) > [A charlatan makes obscure what is clear; a thinker makes clear what is obscure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-kingsmill/a-charlatan-makes-obscure-what-is-clear-a-thinker-makes-clear-what-is/) [Hugh Kingsmill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-kingsmill/) > [Bacon's not the only thing that's cured by hanging from a string.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-kingsmill/bacon-s-not-the-only-thing-that-s-cured-by-hanging-from-a-string/) [Hugh Kingsmill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-kingsmill/) > [The reward of renunciation is some good greater than the thing renounced. 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