--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When academics claim a topic is obsolete…" description: "\"When academics claim a topic is obsolete, they mean merely they are tired of flogging it with their cliches.\" — Kenny Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/kenny-smith-2406_claims_when-academics-claim-a-topic-is-obsolete_64370.png" --- # When academics claim a topic is obsolete, they mean merely… ![“When academics claim a topic is obsolete, they mean merely they are tired of flogging it with their cliches.” quote by Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/kenny-smith-2406_claims_when-academics-claim-a-topic-is-obsolete_64370.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/kenny-smith-2406_claims_when-academics-claim-a-topic-is-obsolete_64370.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/kenny-smith-2406_claims_when-academics-claim-a-topic-is-obsolete_64370.png) > “When academics claim a topic is obsolete, they mean merely they are tired of flogging it with their cliches.” [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement critiques scholars who label subjects as outdated, suggesting the real issue is their fatigue and reliance on overused arguments rather than genuine irrelevance. **In simple terms:** Academic fatigue masquerades as obsolescence. Key Takeaway Tiredness, not truth, drives claims of obsolescence. Themes academic culture intellectual fatigue critical thinking innovation communication Mood skeptical ironic critical Type observation critique When to use this quote - faculty meetings - conference panels - research proposals - curriculum design - peer review Key Concepts obsolescence clichés scholarly discourse motivation Practical Applications - reassessing research agendas - encouraging fresh perspectives Questions to Reflect On - What signs indicate genuine obsolescence versus mere fatigue? - How can scholars refresh their engagement with a topic? A Different Perspective Some topics may indeed become less relevant as knowledge advances, warranting genuine obsolescence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Academics Claim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academics-claim-864353/) [Claims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claims/) [Cliche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cliche/) [Cliches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cliches/) [Flogging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flogging/) [Flogging Cliches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flogging-cliches-864351/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Obsolete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsolete/) [Obsolete Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsolete-mean-505279/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tired/) [Topic Obsolete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/topic-obsolete-864352/) [Topics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/topics/) ## Related quotes > [America's high schools are obsolete. 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