Authority Unless Quote by Noam Chomsky
““authority, unless justified, is inherently illegitimate and that the burden of proof is on those in authority. If this burden can't be met, the authority in question should be dismantled.””
About This Quote
Authority without justification lacks legitimacy; the burden of proof lies with those in power, and if unmet, it should be removed.
In simple terms: Unjust authority is illegitimate.
Key Takeaway
Challenge unjust power with evidence.
Themes
authority
legitimacy
justice
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- activism
- policy debate
- organizational governance
Key Concepts
burden_of_proof
political_theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Who holds unjust authority now?
- How can proof be effectively presented?
A Different Perspective
Power structures may resist dismantling.
![“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)
