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

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...

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...

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.

All over the place, from the popular culture to the propaganda system, there is constant...

All over the place, from the popular culture to the propaganda system, there is constant...

The Bible is one of the most genocidal books in history.

The Bible is one of the most genocidal books in history.

Censorship is never over for those who have experienced it. It is a brand on...

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.

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.

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.

The more you can increase fear of drugs and crime, welfare mothers, immigrants and aliens,...

The more you can increase fear of drugs and crime, welfare mothers, immigrants and aliens,...

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...

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...

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

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

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,...

Resistance is feasible even for those who are not heroes by nature, and it is...

Resistance is feasible even for those who are not heroes by nature, and it is...

You never need an argument against the use of violence, you need an argument for...

You never need an argument against the use of violence, you need an argument for...

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...

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...

Liberty has never come from Government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it....

Liberty has never come from Government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it....

The public history of modern art is the story of conventional people not knowing what...

The public history of modern art is the story of conventional people not knowing what...