[General] What is the meaning of - 'Colleges hate geniuses, just as convents hate saints'?

[Olympian]

Hello,

in today's local newspaper, I saw this quotation attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson.

"Colleges hate geniuses, just as convents hate saints."

I am not able to quite understand this. Could someone please explain?

Thank you

 

[SlickVic9000]

(Not a Teacher)

Since it is a little out of context, I could be wrong about this, but I believe he means that colleges dislike anyone more 'brilliant' than they are, as convents would come to despise a saint for being more 'righteous' than they are.

Basically, he's saying those institutions and the people in them are jealous of great minds.

 

[Olympian]

Thank you SlickVic9000. :up:
There is no context - it was just printed in the newspaper with another quote. The newspaper prints 2 quotes and 2 new (modern) words every day.