This is a variation of a famous aphorism by one of the founders of sociology to the effect that an institution's first purpose is to perpetuate itself and only

This is a variation of a famous aphorism by one of the founders of sociology to the effect that an institution's first purpose is to perpetuate itself and only secondarily to achieve its stated goal. I heard it years ago, attributed to Durkheim, I think, though I was unable to find an attribution the last time I looked. Perhaps someone here knows? In any case, it isn't original enough to be named after Shirky (from what little I've read of whom, he's flexible-minded enough not to care).