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Quote by Noam Chomsky

“As the capacity to coerce declines, it is natural to turn to control of opinion as the basis for authority and domination - a fundamental principle of government already emphasized by David Hume.”

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

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“Our concern is to help people counter the efforts of those who seek to "regiment the public mind every bit as much as an army regiments the bodies of its soldiers," so that the self-designated "responsible men" will be able to run the affairs of the world untroubled by the "bewildered herd" - the general public - who are to be marginalized and dispersed, directed to personal concerns, in a well-regulated "democracy."”

People Men World Mind Wells Self Helping Body Running Able Bits Effort Democracy Concern Army Responsible Affair Soldier Herds Bewildered Marginalized General Public

Author:Noam Chomsky

“An unstated but crucial premise is that the "responsible men" achieve that exalted status by their service to authentic power, a fact of life that they will discover soon enough if they try to pursue an independent path.”

Ifs Men Trying Enough Facts Path Achieve Responsible Independent Pursue Crucial Premises Facts Of Life Exalted Soon Enough

Author:Noam Chomsky

“It seems self-evident that we should want people to be free, to be able to play an active part in making decisions about matters of concern to them, to the largest possible extent.”

People Want Should Self Matter Play Seems Able Decision Concern Active Evident Making Decisions

Author:Noam Chomsky

“We should therefore be opposed to institutional barriers to that freedom: Military dictatorships, for example. Or states run by a Central Committee.”

Should States Running Military Example Barriers Dictatorship Committees

Author:Noam Chomsky

“Unaccountable private power concentrations that dominate economic and social life have the means to seek to "regiment the public mind," and become "tools and tyrants" of government, in James Madison's memorable phrase, as he warned of the threats he discerned to the democratic experiment if private powers were granted free rein.”

Ifs Mind Mean Government Social Economic Tools Threat Democratic Experiments Granted Phrases Memorable Concentration Tyrants Social Life Reins Madison

Author:Noam Chomsky

“Since James Madison day (and long before), there have been constant struggles over "democratic governance".”

Long Has Beens Struggle Constant Democratic Governance Madison Constant Struggle

Author:Noam Chomsky

“Should people be mere "interested spectators of action," not "participants," restricted to lending their weight periodically to one or another sector of the "responsible men," as advocates of "manufacture of consent" have recommended? Or should their rights transcend these highly restricted bounds?”

People Men Should Action Rights Weight Responsible Mere Bounds Consent Spectators Participants Lending

Author:Noam Chomsky

“Sometimes the former forces are in the ascendance, and "democratic governance" is eroded, though anyone familiar with intellectual history would expect that the slogans will be passionately proclaimed as they are drained of substantive content. We happen to be living in such an era, but as often before, there is no reason to suppose that the process is irreversible.”

Sometimes Reason Happens Force Process Intellectual Democratic Familiar Former Eras No Reason Governance Slogans Drained Irreversible

Author:Noam Chomsky

“The "end of history" has been proclaimed many times, always falsely.”

Author:Noam Chomsky

“What is failure for some is success for others. It depends on where they stand in the struggles over "democratic governance" and related rights - civil, social and economic, and broadly cultural, to adopt the framework of the Universal Declaration that is formally endorsed but constantly undermined.”

Social Struggle Rights Economic Depends Universal Democratic Related Declaration Governance Framework

Author:Noam Chomsky