Authority Quote by Noam Chomsky
“As the capacity to coerce declines, it is natural to turn to control of opinion as the basis for authority and domination - a fundamental principle of government already emphasized by David Hume.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Media Control, 1991
When force weakens, authority shifts to shaping opinions, echoing Hume’s view that power relies on persuasion rather than coercion.
In simple terms: Power moves from force to opinion control.
Question information sources.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- journalism
- public policy
- education
- activism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify the credibility of information?
- What strategies resist opinion control?
Persuasion can be subtle and hard to detect.