The principle that human nature, in its psychological aspects, is nothing more than a product of history and given social relations removes all barriers to coercion and manipulation by the powerful.

Quote by Noam Chomsky

Topics: History Quotes

The only justification for repressive institutions is material and cultural deficit. But such institutions, at...

The only justification for repressive institutions is material and cultural deficit. But such institutions, at...

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.

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...

Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.

Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.

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...

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

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

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.

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...

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...

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

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

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...

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.

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...