Constitution Quote by Noam Chomsky
“The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum…”
About This Quote
Source Book: Media Control, 1989
Control is maintained by limiting acceptable opinions while allowing vigorous debate within that narrow range.
In simple terms: Freedom is limited by restricting the range of ideas.
Key Takeaway
Challenge the boundaries of acceptable discourse.
Themes
media
control
freedom
public discourse
political power
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
media
philosophical
When to use this quote
- newsrooms
- online forums
- academic debates
Key Concepts
agenda setting
censorship
public sphere
Questions to Reflect On
- What topics are excluded from mainstream debate?
- How can we broaden the spectrum of acceptable ideas?
A Different Perspective
Even within limits, debate can be manipulated to reinforce power.
![“I would just encourage everybody to just talk your opinion more, allow other people and fight for other people to [express theirs].” quote by Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6a8/killer-mike-2503_fighting_i-would-just-encourage-everybody-to-just_1782821.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)
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
