على كلّ مثقّفٍ مسؤوليةٌ خاصّة جداً؛ فله امتياز الدراسة وفرصتها. وهو مدينٌ لأبناء جنسه (أو «للمجتمع») بأن يعرض نتائج دراسته بأبسط ما يستطيع، وأوضح ما يستطيع، وأكثره تواضعاً. وأسوأ ما يمكن أن يفعله المثقفون، وهي الخطيئة الكبرى، أن ينصّبوا أنفسهم أنبياءَ عظاماً أمام الناس، وأن يبهروهم بفلسفاتٍ مُلغزة. ومن لا يستطيع أن يتكلم ببساطة ووضوح، فليصمت، وليواصل العمل حتى يتمكن من ذلك.

“Every intellectual has a very special responsibility. He has the privilege and the opportunity of studying. In return, he owes it to his fellow men (or 'to society') to represent the results of his study as simply, clearly and modestly as he can. The worst thing that intellectuals can do - the cardinal sin - is to try to set themselves up as great prophets vis-à-vis their fellow men and to impress them with puzzling philosophies. Anyone who cannot speak simply and clearly should say nothing and continue to work until he can do so.”Karl Popper — In Search of a Better World: Lectures and Essays from Thirty Years