College education--what a great value

Just found this quotation saved on an index card, from college:

"You can't breathe dead hippo waking, sleeping, and eating, and at the same time keep your precarious grip on existence." --Joseph Conrad, in Heart of Darkness

Really, what is the point of college anyway? This is the one thing I remember getting out of reading Heart of Darkness--that I found this quote very amusing. I'm sure poor Mr. Conrad would be very edified to learn that this was (for me) the sum total lesson of his masterwork.