“In this possibly terminal phase of human existence, democracy and freedom are more than just ideals to be valued - they may be essential to survival.”
Freedom
“The internet could be a very positive step towards education, organisation and participation in a meaningful society.”
EducationAll Quotes by Noam Chomsky
“I am opposed to the accumulation of executive power anywhere.”
Power“As soon as questions of will or decision or reason or choice of action arise, human science is at a loss.”
Science“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.”
History“The public is not to see where power lies, how it shapes policy, and for what ends. Rather, people are to hate and fear one another.”
Fear“In the literal sense, there has been no relevant evolution since the trek from Africa. But there has been substantial progress towards higher standards of rights, justice and freedom - along with all too many illustrations of how remote is the goal of a decent society.”
Freedom“In the US, there is basically one party - the business party. It has two factions, called Democrats and Republicans, which are somewhat different but carry out variations on the same policies. By and large, I am opposed to those policies. As is most of the population.”
Business“In many respects, the United States is a great country. Freedom of speech is protected more than in any other country. It is also a very free society.”
Freedom“The internet could be a very positive step towards education, organisation and participation in a meaningful society.”
Education“Humans have certain properties and characteristics which are intrinsic to them, just as every other organism does. That's human nature.”
Nature“If there was an observer on Mars, they would probably be amazed that we have survived this long.”
Amazing“Real popular culture is folk art - coalminers' songs and so forth.”
Art“I remember at the age of five travelling on a trolley car with my mother past a group of women on a picket line at a textile plant, seeing them being viciously beaten by security people. So that kind of thing stayed with me.”
Age“Resistance is feasible even for those who are not heroes by nature, and it is an obligation, I believe, for those who fear the consequences and detest the reality of the attempt to impose American hegemony.”
Fear“The intellectual tradition is one of servility to power, and if I didn't betray it I'd be ashamed of myself.”
Power“The major advances in speed of communication and ability to interact took place more than a century ago. The shift from sailing ships to telegraph was far more radical than that from telephone to email!”
Communication“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.”
History“The more you can increase fear of drugs and crime, welfare mothers, immigrants and aliens, the more you control all the people.”
Fear“Education must provide the opportunities for self-fulfillment it can at best provide a rich and challenging environment for the individual to explore, in his own way.”
Best“If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.”
Freedom