Justice Quote by Noam Chomsky
““I am not a committed pacifist. I would not hold that it is under all imaginable circumstances wrong to use violence, even though use of violence is in some sense unjust. I believe that one has to estimate relative justices. But the use of violence and the creation of some degree of injustice can only be justified on the basis of the claim and the assessment-which always ought to be undertaken very, very seriously and with a good deal of scepticism that this violence is being exercised because a more just result is going to be achieved.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Ethics of Violence, 1995
Violence may be justified only after rigorous, skeptical evaluation of its justice compared to alternatives.
In simple terms: Violence needs serious, skeptical assessment before use.
Key Takeaway
Weigh justice carefully before acting.
Themes
ethics
violence
justice
skepticism
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- political protest
- self‑defense
- military intervention
- civil rights activism
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
just war theory
consequentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria truly determine a just use of force?
- How can skepticism prevent misuse of violence?
A Different Perspective
Violence often creates further harm, making justification fragile.
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