Achieve Quote by Joseph Sobran
“What a blessing 'terrorism' is for the state! It's the ideal distraction from the day-to-day reality of the state's chief activity: wringing from its subjects the wealth they produce. Last September (2001) a handful of fanatics, armed only with box-cutters, provided a new rationale for the trillion -dollar swindle. A bonanza! I don't know what these 'terrorists' thought they were achieving: Making the infidel respect Allah? If so, they were wrong. You might as well try to make the U.S. government respect the U.S. Constitution.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New York Times, 2002
He argues terrorism distracts from state exploitation of citizens, noting that terror is used to justify massive financial misconduct.
In simple terms: Terrorism distracts from state greed.
Key Takeaway
Question the true motives behind state actions.
Themes
politics
economics
terrorism
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- public discourse
- activism
Key Concepts
state power
financial exploitation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do governments benefit from fear?
- What alternatives exist to curb state corruption?
A Different Perspective
Complex geopolitics make simple blame insufficient.
![“...[T]he Constitution conferred only a few specific powers on the federal government, all others being denied to it (as the Tenth Amendment would make plain). Unfortunately, only a tiny fraction of the U.S. population today - subtle logicians like you - can grasp such nuances. Too bad. The…” quote by Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e81/joseph-sobran-6902_amendments_t-he-constitution-conferred-only-a-few-s_384248.jpg)
![“...[T]oday's Washington is about as attentive to the Tenth Amendment as the Unitarian Church is to the Book of Revelation.” quote by Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b72/joseph-sobran-6902_amendments_t-oday-s-washington-is-about-as-attentiv_404524.jpg)
