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 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...

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...

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.

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,...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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.

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.

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

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

The intellectual tradition is one of servility to power, and if I didn't betray it...

The intellectual tradition is one of servility to power, and if I didn't betray 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...

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...

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...