Amusement Quote by J. Michael Bishop
“I wrote a letter to Harvard, explaining that I was having difficulty deciding between it and the University of Pennsylvania. Could I come and visit? Years later, the dean of students at Harvard told me that my letter had been posted in the dean’s office for the amusement of the staff. Thus did I learn the measure of institutional arrogance.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Personal essay, 2000s
Realizing that institutions can treat personal appeals as entertainment, revealing hubris.
In simple terms: Institutions may mock sincere requests.
Key Takeaway
Beware of institutional arrogance.
Themes
humility
institution
arrogance
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
personal
anecdotal
When to use this quote
- College admissions
- career decisions
- seeking mentorship
- writing letters
Key Concepts
Power dynamics
status
perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you gauge an institution’s culture before reaching out?
- What signs indicate genuine interest versus tokenism?
A Different Perspective
Not all institutions are dismissive; some may be supportive.
![“I get flack for saying [when I visit a college and give a speech], "This is a nice college, but the really great educator is McDonald's." They hate me for saying this and think I'm a slimy creature. But McDonald's hires people with bad work habits, trains them, and teaches them to come to work on…” quote by Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5b8/charlie-munger-458_college_i-get-flack-for-saying-when-i-visit-a-co_2991447.jpg)
