Home / Quotes / Quote by Noam Chomsky

Quote by Noam Chomsky

“If commissars in Soviet Russia agreed to subordinate themselves to state power, they could at least plead fear in extenuation. Their counterparts in more free and open societies can plead only cowardice.”

Quote by Noam Chomsky

Author

Noam Chomsky, born on December 7, 1928, is a renowned linguist from the United States. His research in generative grammar and transformational grammar has had a profound impact on modern linguistics. Chomsky's academic achievements extend beyond linguistics, as he is also an active political commentator and philosopher, known for his unique perspective and profound insights. more

You May Also Like

“The intellectual is an individual with a specific public role in society that cannot be reduced simply to . . a faceless professional.”

Individual Roles Intellectual Faceless

Author:Noam Chomsky

“Edward Said is a very honorable representative of the "intellectual" in the sense of the term that he defines.”

Said Term Intellectual Representatives Honorable

Author:Noam Chomsky

“That is [Edward Said] proposal as to how the term should be used. It surely does not describe those who are called "intellectuals" in standard usage, as he would be the first to agree.”

Should Firsts Doe Said Would Be Used Term Standards Agree Proposal Usage

Author:Noam Chomsky

“One can neither agree nor disagree with a terminological proposal, as long as it is clear that it is just that: terminological.”

Long Clear Agree Disagree Proposal

Author:Noam Chomsky

“As to whether those who fit the common meaning of the term "intellectual" should act in the manner that [ Edward] Said prescribes, that's another question. Needless to say, I agree with him that they should, and that they commonly do not.”

Should Said Term Common Fit Intellectual Agree

Author:Noam Chomsky

“Intellectuals (in the standard sense of the term, not [ Edward] Said's prescriptive sense) are the people who write history.”

People Writing Said Term Standards

Author:Noam Chomsky

“If the authors and custodians of history turn out to have an attractive image, it is only reasonable to look beyond and ask whether the image they construct is accurate.”

Ifs Looks Turns Asks Attractive Reasonable Accurate Constructs Custodians

Author:Noam Chomsky

“I think such an inquiry will reveal a rather different picture: namely, it will reveal a very strong tendency for the intellectuals who are respected and privileged to be those who subordinate themselves to power.”

Thinking Different Strong Tendencies Very Strong Privileged Inquiry Subordinates

Author:Noam Chomsky

“To use the terms that are reserved for official enemies, it is the commissars and apparatchiks, not the dissidents, who are respected and privileged within their own societies.”

Use Term Enemy Officials Privileged Reserved Dissidents

Author:Noam Chomsky

“To go back to a moment of Western civilization remote enough in time so that we should be able to look at it dispassionately, ask what happened during World War I. What was the typical behavior of respected intellectuals in Germany, England, the United States? What happened to those who publicly questioned the nobility of the war effort, on both sides? I do not think the answers are untypical.”