Action Quote by Noam Chomsky
“Putting it in plain terms, the general public must be reduced to its traditional apathy and obedience, and driven from the arena of political debate and action, if democracy is to survive.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Democracy, Noam Chomsky, 1995
Democracy requires an engaged public; apathy and obedience threaten its survival.
In simple terms: Democracy needs active citizens, not passive followers.
Key Takeaway
Encourage public participation.
Themes
democracy
citizen engagement
political apathy
Mood
concerned
urgent
Type
political
call to action
When to use this quote
- voting
- community forums
- grassroots activism
Key Concepts
social contract
public sphere
civic duty
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we motivate disengaged citizens?
- What structures promote active debate?
A Different Perspective
Passive citizens may lack information to act effectively.
![“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)
