The only justification for repressive institutions is material and cultural deficit. But such institutions, at certain stages of history, perpetuate and produce such a deficit, and even threaten human survival.

Quote by Noam Chomsky

Topics: History Quotes

The principle that human nature, in its psychological aspects, is nothing more than a product...

The principle that human nature, in its psychological aspects, is nothing more than a product...

If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe...

If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe...

As soon as questions of will or decision or reason or choice of action arise,...

As soon as questions of will or decision or reason or choice of action arise,...

The United States is unusual among the industrial democracies in the rigidity of the system...

The United States is unusual among the industrial democracies in the rigidity of the system...

If the Nuremberg laws were applied, then every post-war American president would have been hanged.

If the Nuremberg laws were applied, then every post-war American president would have been hanged.

I have often thought that if a rational Fascist dictatorship were to exist, then it...

I have often thought that if a rational Fascist dictatorship were to exist, then it...

Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.

Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.

States are not moral agents, people are, and can impose moral standards on powerful institutions.

States are not moral agents, people are, and can impose moral standards on powerful institutions.

If we choose, we can live in a world of comforting illusion.

If we choose, we can live in a world of comforting illusion.

Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.

Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.

Unlimited economic growth has the marvelous quality of stilling discontent while maintaining privilege, a fact...

Unlimited economic growth has the marvelous quality of stilling discontent while maintaining privilege, a fact...

Everybody's worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there's a really easy way: stop participating in it.

Everybody's worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there's a really easy way: stop participating in it.

To some degree it matters who's in office, but it matters more how much pressure...

To some degree it matters who's in office, but it matters more how much pressure...

In this possibly terminal phase of human existence, democracy and freedom are more than just...

In this possibly terminal phase of human existence, democracy and freedom are more than just...

Language is a process of free creation; its laws and principles are fixed, but the...

Language is a process of free creation; its laws and principles are fixed, but the...

Any dictator would admire the uniformity and obedience of the U.S. media.

Any dictator would admire the uniformity and obedience of the U.S. media.

We can, for example, be fairly confident that either there will be a world without...

We can, for example, be fairly confident that either there will be a world without...

Human language appears to be a unique phenomenon, without significant analogue in the animal world.

Human language appears to be a unique phenomenon, without significant analogue in the animal world.

Either you repeat the same conventional doctrines everybody is saying, or else you say something...

Either you repeat the same conventional doctrines everybody is saying, or else you say something...

The people who were honored in the Bible were the false prophets. It was the...

The people who were honored in the Bible were the false prophets. It was the...