“Concentration of executive power, unless it's very temporary and for specific circumstances, let's say fighting world war two, it's an assault on democracy.”
Power
“The government of Israel doesn't like the kinds of things I say, which puts them into the same category as every other government in the world.”
GovernmentAll Quotes by Noam Chomsky
“Humans have certain properties and characteristics which are intrinsic to them, just as every other organism does. That's human nature.”
Nature“The intellectual tradition is one of servility to power, and if I didn't betray it I'd be ashamed of myself.”
Power“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“I am opposed to the accumulation of executive power anywhere.”
Power“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“Wanton killing of innocent civilians is terrorism, not a war against terrorism.”
War“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“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“The more you can increase fear of drugs and crime, welfare mothers, immigrants and aliens, the more you control all the people.”
Fear“The Bible is one of the most genocidal books in history.”
History“If you are working 50 hours a week in a factory, you don't have time to read 10 newspapers a day and go back to declassified government archives. But such people may have far-reaching insights into the way the world works.”
Government“The 'anti-globalisation movement' is the most significant proponent of globalisation - but in the interests of people, not concentrations of state-private power.”
Power“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“If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.”
Freedom“There are two problems for our species' survival - nuclear war and environmental catastrophe - and we're hurtling towards them. Knowingly.”
Environmental“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 internet could be a very positive step towards education, organisation and participation in a meaningful society.”
Education“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“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