--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America has always been the richest and…" description: "\"America has always been the richest and most secure, and sometimes the most dangerous country in the world. In the early years, the danger was to every..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/noam-chomsky-42_america_america-has-always-been-the-richest-and_1150782.jpg" --- # America has always been the richest and most secure, and… ![“America has always been the richest and most secure, and sometimes the most dangerous country in the world. In the early years, the danger was to everybody near us, slaves, Native Americans, Mexicans. It finally expanded in 1898 to the Caribbean, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Philippines.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/noam-chomsky-42_america_america-has-always-been-the-richest-and_1150782.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/noam-chomsky-42_america_america-has-always-been-the-richest-and_1150782.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/noam-chomsky-42_america_america-has-always-been-the-richest-and_1150782.jpg) > “America has always been the richest and most secure, and sometimes the most dangerous country in the world. In the early years, the danger was to everybody near us, slaves, Native Americans, Mexicans. It finally expanded in 1898 to the Caribbean, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Philippines.” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America’s wealth and security coexist with historical and ongoing oppression of marginalized groups. **In simple terms:** Power and oppression coexist. Key Takeaway Address systemic inequities. Themes power inequality history foreign policy Mood critical concerned Type political historical When to use this quote - education - activism - policy reform - media analysis Key Concepts imperialism colonialism nationalism Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities accompany national power? - How can histories be reconciled? A Different Perspective Wealth does not guarantee moral superiority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Caribbean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caribbean/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Cuba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cuba/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Dangerous Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-country-399846/) [Hawaii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hawaii/) [Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native/) [Native american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american/) [Native americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-americans/) [Philippines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philippines/) [Puerto rico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puerto-rico/) [Richest Secure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richest-secure-3252042/) [Rico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rico/) [Secure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secure/) [Secure Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secure-dangerous-3252041/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Puerto Rico has a stray dog problem. Tens of thousands of homeless canines - hundreds of thousands, by some estimates - live and die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/puerto-rico-has-a-stray-dog-problem-tens-of-thousands-of-homeless/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [American imperialism is often traced to the takeover of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii in 1898.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-imperialism-is-often-traced-to-the-takeover-of-cuba-puerto/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The United States is absolutely the most dangerous country in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-united-states-is-absolutely-the-most-dangerous-country-in-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I live in Puerto Rico, my family lives in Puerto Rico, my friends. What happens in Puerto Rico matters to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bad-bunny/i-live-in-puerto-rico-my-family-lives-in-puerto-rico-my-friends-what/) [Bad Bunny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bad-bunny/) > [Exercising dominion over Puerto Rico, as the U.S. has done for more than a century - without granting Puerto Ricans the full franchise in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-torres/exercising-dominion-over-puerto-rico-as-the-u-s-has-done-for-more/) [Ritchie Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-torres/) > [I got a message from one of my friends in Puerto Rico, who said, 'Sonia, there's nobody working in Puerto Rico - they're all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/i-got-a-message-from-one-of-my-friends-in-puerto-rico-who-said-sonia/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I was ballet dancing at four, playing piano by six, and doing commercials by 12. When I was 21, I was on the number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roselyn-sanchez/i-was-ballet-dancing-at-four-playing-piano-by-six-and-doing/) [Roselyn Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roselyn-sanchez/) > [In Puerto Rico, we have a lot of traditions. We eat a very typical thing that's called 'pasteles' - it's almost like a tamale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-giraud/in-puerto-rico-we-have-a-lot-of-traditions-we-eat-a-very-typical/) [Joyce Giraud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-giraud/) > [Now that the there is a path for the people of Puerto Rico to express their self-determination on Puerto Rico's political status, there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/now-that-the-there-is-a-path-for-the-people-of-puerto-rico-to-express/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [My mother always gives the best advice. When I left Puerto Rico to pursue my dreams, she always supported me and said to me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roselyn-sanchez/my-mother-always-gives-the-best-advice-when-i-left-puerto-rico-to/) [Roselyn Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roselyn-sanchez/) > [I know Spanish pretty well. I'm half-Puerto Rican - my mom is from Puerto Rico - so I have a lot of family there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lambert/i-know-spanish-pretty-well-i-m-half-puerto-rican-my-mom-is-from/) [David Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lambert/) > [You want a lesson? I'll give you a lesson. How about a geography lesson? My father's from Puerto Rico. My mother's from El Salvador.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-esposito/you-want-a-lesson-i-ll-give-you-a-lesson-how-about-a-geography-lesson/) [Jennifer Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-esposito/) > [I had such a great upbringing in Puerto Rico, and it was just a very normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roselyn-sanchez/i-had-such-a-great-upbringing-in-puerto-rico-and-it-was-just-a-very/) [Roselyn Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roselyn-sanchez/) > [We are a possession of the United States. Congress has full authorization power over Puerto Rico.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-rossello/we-are-a-possession-of-the-united-states-congress-has-full/) [Ricardo Rossello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-rossello/) > [I represent the streets of Puerto Rico around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuel-aa/i-represent-the-streets-of-puerto-rico-around-the-world/) [Anuel AA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuel-aa/) ## More by Noam Chomsky > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? 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Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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