"The educated do not share a common body of information, but a common state of mind"

Mason Cooley's quote argues that education is not merely about possessing a set of info, however rather it has to do with cultivating a particular state of mind. The concept is that the informed individual has a crucial outlook on the world, a sense of interest, and a desire to find out and broaden their knowledge. This mindset originates from the process of knowing, instead of any set body of information. Cooley sees education as a method to broaden one's horizons, to see the world through new lenses, and to develop a perspective that is open, nuanced, and reflective. Eventually, "a typical state of mind" permits a shared understanding and perspective, even if there is no shared knowledgebase.