--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You actually cannot sell the idea of…" description: "\"You actually cannot sell the idea of freedom, democracy, diversity, as if it were a brand attribute and not reality -- not at the same time as you're b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/naomi-klein-1072_attributes_you-actually-cannot-sell-the-idea-of-fre_1994632.png" --- # You actually cannot sell the idea of freedom, democracy… ![“You actually cannot sell the idea of freedom, democracy, diversity, as if it were a brand attribute and not reality -- not at the same time as you're bombing people, you can't.” quote by Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/naomi-klein-1072_attributes_you-actually-cannot-sell-the-idea-of-fre_1994632.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/naomi-klein-1072_attributes_you-actually-cannot-sell-the-idea-of-fre_1994632.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/naomi-klein-1072_attributes_you-actually-cannot-sell-the-idea-of-fre_1994632.png) > “You actually cannot sell the idea of freedom, democracy, diversity, as if it were a brand attribute and not reality -- not at the same time as you're bombing people, you can't.” [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom and democracy cannot be marketed like products while simultaneously committing violence. **In simple terms:** Values must match actions. Key Takeaway Align rhetoric with behavior. Themes ethics politics authenticity Mood urgent critical Type activist inspirational When to use this quote - campaign design - policy advocacy - public speaking - media strategy Key Concepts human rights marketing social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can we hold leaders accountable? - What alternatives to branding values exist? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched systems is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bombing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombing/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Marketing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marketing/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [Bombing people for economic reasons is as horrible as killing a pregnant woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/bombing-people-for-economic-reasons-is-as-horrible-as-killing-a/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [If we keep bombing other people, that creates more anger. Tensions keep escalating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/if-we-keep-bombing-other-people-that-creates-more-anger-tensions-keep/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [I think it is well . . . for the man in the street to realise there is no power on earth that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-baldwin/i-think-it-is-well-for-the-man-in-the-street-to-realise-there-is-no/) [Stanley Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-baldwin/) > [Our elite believe in a new trinity of equality, democracy and diversity. Indeed, after the Cold War, we declared the spread of democracy worldwide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/our-elite-believe-in-a-new-trinity-of-equality-democracy-and/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I hope for an America where we can all contend freely and vigorously, but where we will treasure and guard those standards of civility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/i-hope-for-an-america-where-we-can-all-contend-freely-and-vigorously/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [Terrible wars have been fought where millions have died for one idea - freedom. And it seems that something that means so much to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/terrible-wars-have-been-fought-where-millions-have-died-for-one-idea/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [As for me, my literary theory, like my politics, is based chiefly upon one main idea, to wit, the idea of freedom. I am,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/as-for-me-my-literary-theory-like-my-politics-is-based-chiefly-upon/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [If one examines the American idea of freedom, the individual, free enterprise, their Constitution, their political and economic structures as well as their mode…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ndabaningi-sithole/if-one-examines-the-american-idea-of-freedom-the-individual-free/) [Ndabaningi Sithole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ndabaningi-sithole/) > [“The Immovable Object can also be construed as an idea whose time has come. It’s an idea of proportions that the human mind can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-r-herrera/the-immovable-object-can-also-be-construed-as-an-idea-whose-time-has/) Carla R. Herrera > [Your idea doesn't have to be big. It just has to be yours alone. The more the idea is yours alone, the more freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-idea-doesn-t-have-to-be-big-it-just-has-to-be-yours-alone-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He was not bone and feather but a perfect idea of freedom and flight, limited by nothing at all](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/he-was-not-bone-and-feather-but-a-perfect-idea-of-freedom-and-flight/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [America is not so much a country as it is an idea, and that must be why so many people are drawn to it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/america-is-not-so-much-a-country-as-it-is-an-idea-and-that-must-be/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [In America idea of freedom isn't actually about freedom. That's about power. The point of an artist is to find out what are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-martin/in-america-idea-of-freedom-isn-t-actually-about-freedom-that-s-about/) [Chris Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-martin/) > [“The idea of freedom is complex and it is all-encompassing. It’s the idea that the economy must remain free of government persuasion. It’s the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-guillory/the-idea-of-freedom-is-complex-and-it-is-all-encompassing-it-s-the/) [Elbert Guillory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-guillory/) > [Most of the time we like the idea of our own freedom. There are times when we do not at all like the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/most-of-the-time-we-like-the-idea-of-our-own-freedom-there-are-times/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) ## More by Naomi Klein > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [But we need to be very clear: because of our decades of collective denial, no gradual, incremental options are now available to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/but-we-need-to-be-very-clear-because-of-our-decades-of-collective/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [As I explored Trump's inextricable relationship with his commercial brand, and its implications for the future of politics, I began to see why so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/as-i-explored-trump-s-inextricable-relationship-with-his-commercial/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [It doesn't have the ability to think rationally this economic model. It thinks like a drug addict: 'Where can I get my next fix?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/it-doesn-t-have-the-ability-to-think-rationally-this-economic-model/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Fury is an entirely appropriate response to a system that sends young people to kill other young people in a war that never should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/fury-is-an-entirely-appropriate-response-to-a-system-that-sends-young/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Since the 1980s, we've been living in this era, really, of corporate rule, based on this idea that the role of government is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/since-the-1980s-we-ve-been-living-in-this-era-really-of-corporate/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [We live in a society that is powered by fossil fuels, but for the meantime, we're in it. 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A powerful message—spoken in the language of fires, floods, droughts, and extinctions—telling us that we need an entirely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/it-is-a-civilizational-wake-up-call-a-powerful-message-spoken-in-the/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [“You have been negotiating all my life.” So said Canadian college student Anjali Appadurai, as she stared down the assembled government negotiators at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/you-have-been-negotiating-all-my-life-so-said-canadian-college/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [There's a property in Panama where Trump has collected somewhere around $30 million just from selling his name to this property - it's somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/there-s-a-property-in-panama-where-trump-has-collected-somewhere/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [When I went to Australia, I had this feeling, like, 'Wow, this is really a different country.' 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Because you know how you feel, but so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/i-think-the-greatest-imagination-we-can-exercise-is-one-that-imagines/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [A lover asked his beloved, Do you love yourself more than you love me? Beloved replied, I have died to myself and I live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-lover-asked-his-beloved-do-you-love-yourself-more-than-you-love-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the greatest attributes of jazz, I think, is that it is that open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/one-of-the-greatest-attributes-of-jazz-i-think-is-that-it-is-that-open/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [God is compassionate and just, loving and holy, wrathful and forgiving. WE can't sideline His more difficult attributes to make room for the palatable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/god-is-compassionate-and-just-loving-and-holy-wrathful-and-forgiving/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [I'm Irish and always will be, but America has taught me so much. Maybe it's here in the U.S. that we find a healing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fionnula-flanagan/i-m-irish-and-always-will-be-but-america-has-taught-me-so-much-maybe/) [Fionnula Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fionnula-flanagan/) > [“It is this spirit of godliness that will bring forth the attributes, the principles and the life style of godliness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/it-is-this-spirit-of-godliness-that-will-bring-forth-the-attributes/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [My Calvinism persuades me that we are open to God, in the sense that we are not delimited, not organisms with fixed attributes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/my-calvinism-persuades-me-that-we-are-open-to-god-in-the-sense-that/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery-th e strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/a-pivotal-spiritual-attribute-is-that-of-self-mastery-th-e-strength/) [Russell M. 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I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wilbon/if-i-have-any-attribute-that-serves-me-well-it-s-i-don-t-have-a-long/) [Michael Wilbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wilbon/) Browse all 852 Attributes quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You actually cannot sell the idea of freedom, democracy, diversity, as if it were a brand attribute and not reality -- not at the same time as you're bombing people, you can't.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Naomi Klein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/you-actually-cannot-sell-the-idea-of-freedom-democracy-diversity-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attributes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/you-actually-cannot-sell-the-idea-of-freedom-democracy-diversity-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/naomi-klein-1072_attributes_you-actually-cannot-sell-the-idea-of-fre_1994632.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/naomi-klein-1072_attributes_you-actually-cannot-sell-the-idea-of-fre_1994632.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/naomi-klein-1072_attributes_you-actually-cannot-sell-the-idea-of-fre_1994632.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You actually cannot sell the idea of freedom, democracy, diversity, as if it were a brand attribute and not…” — Naomi Klein", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Naomi Klein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You actually cannot sell the idea...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/you-actually-cannot-sell-the-idea-of-freedom-democracy-diversity-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/you-actually-cannot-sell-the-idea-of-freedom-democracy-diversity-as/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```