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Noam Chomsky Quotes - Page 18

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One of the truths about the world is that there are two superpowers, one a huge power which happens to have its boot on your neck; another, a smaller power which happens to have its boot on other people's necks. I think

One of the truths about the world is that there are two superpowers, one a huge power which happens to have its boot on your neck; another, a smaller power which happens to have its boot on other people's necks. I think that anyone in the Third World would be making a grave error if they succumbed to illusions about these matters

Thinking, Errors, Two

It's been a real success - one of the great business successes in the United States - to break down organization, to separate people too: it's part of consumerism. If you can drive people toward individual consumption, that's the highest goal in life. And furthermore, drive them into debt so they're trapped. You don't have to worry about a democracy function because people are trapped and they're alone.

Real, Organization, People

Source: www.truth-out.org

...free enterprise, [is] a term that refers, in practice, to a system of public subsidy and private profit, with massive government intervention in the economy to maintain a welfare state for the rich.

Government, Practice, Political

Noam Chomsky (2011). “How the World Works”, p.64, Soft Skull Press

Social and political issues in general seem to me fairly simple; the effort to obfuscate them in esoteric and generally vacuous theory is one of the contributions of the intelligentsia to enhancing their own power and the power of those they serve.

Simple, Issues, Effort

Noam Chomsky (2004). “Language and Politics”, p.345, AK Press

The idea that people should be allowed to decide something about their own fate is just anathema to European elites.

Fate, Ideas, People

Source: pennpoliticalreview.org

Advertising is tax deductible, so we all pay for the privilege of being manipulated and controlled.

Pay, Privilege, Advertising

Noam Chomsky (2013). “How the World Works”, p.301, Soft Skull Press

There's a tremendous gap between public opinion and public policy.

Public Opinion, Gaps, Policy

In general, the attitude towards Nazi Germany was not that hostile, especially if you look at the U.S. State Department reports. In 1937 the State Department was describing Adolf Hitler as a "moderate" who was holding off the forces of the right and the left.

Attitude, Germany, Looks

Source: thehumanist.com

Bohemian Grove seems to be a kind of frat house affair. Bilderberg [philosophy] may be marginally more serious. The CFR is transparent. You can read their publications. In the 18th century it perhaps made some sense to conjure up the Illuminati and Masons. Not since.

Philosophy, House, May

Source: thefifthcolumnnews.com

There are many terrorist states in the world, but the United States is unusual in that it is officially committed to international terrorism.

Peace, War, United States

Noam Chomsky (2002). “Pirates and Emperors, Old and New: International Terrorism in the Real World”, p.122, South End Press

In fact, it was stated early in the first Bush [presidency], Bush I, in one of their documents they pointed out in the future, US wars are going to be against much weaker enemies. And they have to be won quickly and decisively before a popular reaction develops. And Iif you take a look, that's what's done. Look at Panama, for instance, over a couple of days; and Kosovo, no American troops.

Couple, War, Enemy

Source: www.salon.com

A drone strike is a terror weapon, we don't talk about it that way. It is; just imagine you are walking down the street and you don't know whether in 5 minutes there is going to be an explosion across the street from some place up in the sky that you can't see. Somebody will be killed, and whoever is around will be killed, maybe you'll be injured if you're there. That is a terror weapon. It terrorizes villages, regions, huge areas. It's the most massive terror campaign going on by a long shot.

Sky, Long, Drones

When I look at public opinion, I'm not far out of the mainstream. I'm in it, in many respects. In some respects, public opinion goes beyond anything I've ever said.

Public Opinion, Looks, Mainstream

On humanitarian intervention in general, I guess my view is not unlike the view that was attributed to Gandhi, accurately or not, when he was supposedly asked what he thought about western civilization. He is supposed to have said that he thought it would be a good idea. Similarly, humanitarian intervention would be a good idea, in principle.

Views, Civilization, Ideas

Seminar at Bard College, New York, February 2, 2000.

States are violent to the extent that they have the power to act in the interests of those with domestic power

Violent, States, Interest

Noam Chomsky (2004). “Language and Politics”, p.341, AK Press

Politicians don't want democracy here in America, why would they want it in the Middle East?

America, Democracy, Middle East

Source: brightestyoungthings.com

We need not stride resolutely towards catastrophe, merely because those are the marching orders.

Order, Needs, Stride

Noam Chomsky (2001). “9-11 [neuf-onze]”, p.70, Seven Stories Press

US government policies are continuing to do exactly the same thing [produce terrorism]. Two days after the Boston marathon bombings, there was a drone strike in Yemen attacking a peaceful village, which killed a target who could very easily have been apprehended. But of course it is just easier to terrorise people.

Government, Boston, Two

Source: www.dawn.com

...dissent, protest, presures of a wide variety that escape elite control can modify the calculus of costs of planners, and offer a slight hope that Washington can be compelled to permit at least some steps towards "justice, freedom and democracy" within its domains.

Justice, Democracy, Cost

It is quite possible--overwhelmingly probable, one might guess--that we will always learn more about human life and personality from novels than from scientific psychology

Personality, Psychology, Might

Noam Chomsky (1988). “Language and Problems of Knowledge: The Managua Lectures”, p.159, MIT Press

The anniversary of Hiroshima, should be a day of somber reflection, not only on the terrible events of that day in 1945, but also on what they revealed: that humans, in their dedicated quest to extend their capacities for destruction, had finally found a way to approach the ultimate limit.

Reflection, Terrible Events, Quests

Noam Chomsky (2015). “Because We Say So”, p.55, City Lights Books

There is a noticeable general difference between the sciences and mathematics on the one hand, and the humanities and social sciences on the other. It's a first approximation, but one that is real. In the former, the factors of integrity tend to dominate more over the factors of ideology. It's not that scientists are more honest people. It's just that nature is a harsh taskmaster. You can lie or distort the story of the French Revolution as long as you like, and nothing will happen. Propose a false theory in chemistry, and it'll be refuted tomorrow.

Integrity, Real, Lying

"Noam Chomsky: A Life of Dissent". Book by Robert F. Barsky, 1997.

Suppose that insect wings developed primarily as thermoregulators and then were used for skimming and finally flying, evolving along the way. What would they be "for"? Or what is the skeleton "for"? For keeping one upright, protecting organs, storing calcium, making blood cells...?

Skeletons, Cells, Blood

Source: libcom.org

The very design of neoliberal principles is a direct attack on democracy.

Design, Democracy, Principles

Noam Chomsky (2010). “Hopes and Prospects”, p.89, Penguin UK

Very commonly substances are criminalized because they're associated with what's called the dangerous classes, you know, poor people, or working people.... Actually, the peak of marijuana use was as I said, in the seventies, but that was rich kids, so you don't throw them in jail. And then it got seriously criminalized, you know, you really throw people in jail for it, when it was poor people.

Kids, Marijuana, Class

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