Bother Quote by Noam Chomsky
“I don't bother writing about Fox News. It is too easy. What I talk about are the liberal intellectuals, the ones who portray themselves and perceive themselves as challenging power, as courageous, as standing up for truth and justice. They are basically the guardians of the faith. They set the limits. They tell us how far we can go. They say, 'Look how courageous I am.' But do not go one millimeter beyond that. At least for the educated sectors, they are the most dangerous in supporting power.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 1995
Liberal intellectuals often act as self‑appointed moral guardians, limiting radical change by staying within safe bounds.
In simple terms: Intellectuals may restrict true progress.
Key Takeaway
Question the limits set by so‑called truth‑keepers.
Themes
politics
media
intellectualism
power
critique
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- academic circles
- activist strategies
Key Concepts
public discourse
media influence
Questions to Reflect On
- What boundaries do intellectuals impose?
- How can we encourage genuine dissent?
A Different Perspective
Such guardians can unintentionally uphold the status quo.
![“By that time [1966], we did begin to get some protests [against Vietnam War]. But not from liberal intellectuals; they never opposed the war.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/419/noam-chomsky-42_protest_by-that-time-1966-we-did-begin-to-get-so_1359924.jpg)
![“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)
![“Brad [Dourif] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him a little bit. I just think maybe they have similar voices.” quote by David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cfe/david-kirschner-22403_bits_brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-w_478.jpg)
