Books Quote by Noam Chomsky
![“The literature is like that - they [unions] are constantly talking about the masses, the danger they pose, and how to control them. They understand what they're doing, and they're very class conscious. They press policies which work for their interests.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/611/noam-chomsky-42_books_the-literature-is-like-that-they-unions_1566239.jpg)
“The literature is like that - they [unions] are constantly talking about the masses, the danger they pose, and how to control them. They understand what they're doing, and they're very class conscious. They press policies which work for their interests.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 1999, The Nation, “The Media and the Masses”
The quote critiques unions for claiming to represent the masses while actually serving their own class interests and controlling the working class.
In simple terms: Unions claim to help people but act in self‑interest.
Key Takeaway
Beware of groups that claim to speak for others.
Themes
politics
class
media
labor
power
Mood
skeptical
critical
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- union negotiations
- political campaigns
- media analysis
- public policy debates
Key Concepts
class consciousness
elite control
political economy
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you see examples where unions truly empower workers?
- How can workers verify the motives of their representatives?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overgeneralize unions and ignore their positive achievements.
![“Oleg Bard: I understand, but by virtue of that power of imagination which, according to [Georgi] Plekhanov, is granted to Marxists, I can already see as through a prism, so to speak, the triumph of your class as symbolized by your sublime, ravishing, elegant, and class-conscious wedding!” quote by Vladimir Mayakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/30a/vladimir-mayakovsky-14562_power-of-imagination_oleg-bard-i-understand-but-by-virtue-of_977591.jpg)
![“Anti-union propaganda has been considerably more successful here [ in the U.S.] than in Europe, even among working people who would benefit [from] unions.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c8e/noam-chomsky-42_benefits_anti-union-propaganda-has-been-considera_970175.jpg)
![“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)
