Bewildered Quote by Noam Chomsky
“The current period of regression is registering some success in "producing people" who are subordinated to external power, diverted to such "superficial things" as "fashionable consumption" and other pursuits more fitting for the "bewildered herd" than participation in determining the course of individual and social life.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Manufacturing Consent by Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman, 1988
Society is producing individuals who obey external authority and focus on shallow consumerism rather than shaping their own lives and society.
In simple terms: People are made to follow power and chase trivial things instead of influencing their future.
Key Takeaway
Question authority and seek meaningful participation.
Themes
power
consumerism
individual autonomy
social responsibility
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political activism
- community organizing
- personal development
- education reform
Key Concepts
critical theory
media influence
alienation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can individuals break free from consumerist pressures?
- What role does media play in shaping these behaviors?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overgeneralize and ignore personal agency and diverse motivations.
![“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)
