Action Quote by Noam Chomsky
“One can contrive a religious motivation for virtually any choice of action, from commitment to the highest ideals to support for the most horrendous atrocities. In the sacred texts, we can find uplifting calls for peace, justice and mercy, along with the most genocidal passages in the literary canon. Conscience is our guide, whatever trappings we might choose to clothe it in.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Media and Power, 2015
Moral motives can be twisted to justify any action, from noble ideals to horrific deeds; conscience must stay vigilant.
In simple terms: Motives can be used for good or evil; conscience guides.
Key Takeaway
Question and uphold conscience against manipulative narratives.
Themes
morality
political manipulation
conscience
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political activism
- journalism
- education
- policy making
Key Concepts
critical theory
ethical relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- What values truly guide your actions?
- How do you discern genuine moral motives?
A Different Perspective
People may resist confronting uncomfortable truths about their own beliefs.
![“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)
