Assimilation Quote by Kenneth Arrow
“Knowledge is a free good. The biggest cost in its transmission is not in the production or distribution of knowledge, but in its assimilation. This is something that all teachers know.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Social Choice and Individual Values, Kenneth Arrow, 1951
Knowledge itself costs nothing, but the effort to understand and integrate it is expensive, especially for educators.
In simple terms: Learning costs more than creating knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Invest in teaching methods that ease assimilation.
Themes
education
economics
knowledge transfer
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
insightful
educational
When to use this quote
- classroom teaching
- online courses
- corporate training
- self‑study
- policy design
Key Concepts
Human capital
cognitive load
learning theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we reduce assimilation barriers?
- What role do teachers play in lowering costs?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all learners have equal capacity to assimilate, which is rarely true.
![“[I]nclusion, not assimilation, should be the key concept in seeking, ever seeking, a more perfect national union. Our own history has shown that we are stronger as a mosaic than a melting pot. Our nation is bound together more by ideals than by blood or land, and inclusion is in our cultural DNA…” quote by Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ab3/dan-rather-2779_inclusion_i-nclusion-not-assimilation-should-be-th_105214.jpg)
