The delicate thing about the university is that it has a mixed character, that it is suspended between its position read more

The delicate thing about the university is that it has a mixed character, that it is suspended between its position in the eternal world, with all its corruption and evils and cruelties, and the splendid world of our imagination.

In the university they don't tell you that the greater part of the law is learning to tolerate fools

In the university they don't tell you that the greater part of the law is learning to tolerate fools

The idea that it is necessary to go to a university in order to become a successful writer . . read more

The idea that it is necessary to go to a university in order to become a successful writer . . . is one of those fantasies that surround authorship.

A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students.

A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students.

No university in the world has ever risen to greatness without a correspondingly great library... When this is no longer read more

No university in the world has ever risen to greatness without a correspondingly great library... When this is no longer true, then will our civilization have come to an end.

Of course there's a lot of knowledge in universities: the freshmen bring a little in; the seniors don't take much read more

Of course there's a lot of knowledge in universities: the freshmen bring a little in; the seniors don't take much away, so knowledge sort of accumulates.

A professor is one who talks in someone else's sleep.

A professor is one who talks in someone else's sleep.

Freedom of inquiry, freedom of discussion, and freedom of teaching - without these a university cannot exist

Freedom of inquiry, freedom of discussion, and freedom of teaching - without these a university cannot exist

If I were founding a university I would begin with a smoking room; next a dormitory; and then a decent read more

If I were founding a university I would begin with a smoking room; next a dormitory; and then a decent reading room and a library. After that, if I still had more money that I couldn't use, I would hire a professor and get some text books.