Able Quote by Noam Chomsky
“Non-violent resistance activities cannot succeed against an enemy that is able freely to use violence. That's pretty obvious. You can't have non-violent resistance against the Nazis in a concentration camp, to take an extreme case...”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Public lecture on resistance, 2010
Non‑violent tactics fail when opponents can freely use violence, limiting effectiveness.
In simple terms: Violence can nullify peaceful protest.
Key Takeaway
Assess power dynamics before choosing tactics.
Themes
politics
ethics
conflict
Mood
critical
hopeful
Type
philosophical
strategic
When to use this quote
- author regimes
- social movements
- activist planning
Key Concepts
civil disobedience
power asymmetry
strategic choice
Questions to Reflect On
- When is non‑violence still worthwhile?
- How can oppressed groups protect themselves?
A Different Perspective
Non‑violent methods may still inspire change despite limitations.
![“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)
