My understanding is that historically information has been the currency of kings while the gold is the currency of rich and labor the currency of poor.
The group harnessing that power of information holds more favorable cards (as you state in you reply). Historically it has been the job of scholars to bring that power from the elite to the masses. To create a bridge, if you will, so that a healthy society flourishes.
That seems a wise statement. If true then scholars hold a deeply meaningful status in our society. For without knowledge we will surely run off course.