Chance Quote by Noam Chomsky
“If something is repeated over and over as obvious, the chances are that it is obviously false.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing propaganda, Noam Chomsky, 1990s
Repeated obvious statements often become false because familiarity breeds complacency, not truth.
In simple terms: Repeating obvious things can make them seem false.
Key Takeaway
Question repeated claims critically.
Themes
critical thinking
truth
propaganda
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- news consumption
- political debate
- education
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
media literacy
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we accept repeated messages?
- How can you verify repeated claims?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on repetition can also reinforce falsehoods.
![“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)
