Noam Chomsky Quotes

United States, Philosopher
December 7, 1928

Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, political activist, and social critic. Sometimes called "the father of modern linguistics", Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy and one of the founders of the field of cognitive science. He holds a joint appointment as Institute Professor Emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and laureate professor at the University of Arizona, and is the author of over 100 books on topics such as linguistics, war, politics, and mass media. Ideologically, he aligns with anarcho-syndicalism and libertarian socialism.

Also known as Scientist, Historian, Political Activist, Social Critic

You cannot control your own population by force, but it can be distracted by consumption.

Noam Chomsky
As soon as questions of will or decision or reason or choice of action arise, human science is at a loss.

Noam Chomsky
- Science
- Questions
- Loss

Education is a system of imposed ignorance.

Noam Chomsky
How it is we have so much information, but know so little?

Noam Chomsky
- Know
- Information
- Little
Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.

Noam Chomsky
- Democracy
- Propaganda
You never need an argument against the use of violence, you need an argument for it.

Noam Chomsky
- Violence
- Need
- Argument
Rational discussion is useful only when there is a significant base of shared assumptions.

Noam Chomsky
If you want to achieve something, you build the basis for it.

Noam Chomsky
- Achieve
- Build
- Basis

We shouldn’t be looking for heroes, we should be looking for good ideas.

Noam Chomsky
- Ideas
- Looking
- Heroes
There are two problems for our species’ survival – nuclear war and environmental catastrophe – and we’re hurtling towards them. Knowingly.

Noam Chomsky
The more you can increase fear of drugs, crime, welfare mothers, immigrants and aliens, the more you control all of the people.

Noam Chomsky
- People
- Fear
- Control
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.

Noam Chomsky
If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.

Noam Chomsky
Language is a weapon of politicians, but language is a weapon in much of human affairs.

Noam Chomsky