Absurd Quote by Noam Chomsky
“As a tactic, violence is absurd. No one can compete with the Government in violence, and the resort to violence, which will surely fail, will simply frighten and alienate some who can be reached, and will further encourage the ideologists and administrators of forceful repression.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on political strategy, 1990s
Violence is ineffective against state power and alienates potential allies while empowering repressors.
In simple terms: Violence against government fails and pushes people away.
Key Takeaway
Avoid violent tactics; seek non‑violent resistance.
Themes
politics
power
non‑violent resistance
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- activism
- community organizing
- public protest
- political advocacy
Key Concepts
state coercion
social movements
Questions to Reflect On
- Can non‑violent methods achieve the same impact?
- What risks arise when violence is used?
A Different Perspective
Violence may sometimes be seen as the only option by oppressed groups.
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
