Civil disobedience Quote by Howard Zinn
“Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders . . . . and millions have been killed because of this obedience . . . .”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Civil Disobedience Lecture, 1970
Blind obedience to authority fuels oppression and mass violence.
In simple terms: Obedience can cause harm.
Key Takeaway
Question authority.
Themes
politics
obedience
violence
Mood
critical
urgent
Type
historical
activist
When to use this quote
- activism
- education
- policy making
- community organizing
Key Concepts
ethics
social movements
Questions to Reflect On
- When is civil disobedience justified?
- How can societies foster healthy dissent?
A Different Perspective
Rebellion can lead to chaos without clear goals.
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