--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As the capacity to coerce declines, it is…" description: "\"As the capacity to coerce declines, it is natural to turn to control of opinion as the basis for authority and domination - a fundamental principle of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/noam-chomsky-42_authority_as-the-capacity-to-coerce-declines-it-is_1452342.jpg" --- # As the capacity to coerce declines, it is natural to turn… ![“As the capacity to coerce declines, it is natural to turn to control of opinion as the basis for authority and domination - a fundamental principle of government already emphasized by David Hume.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/noam-chomsky-42_authority_as-the-capacity-to-coerce-declines-it-is_1452342.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/noam-chomsky-42_authority_as-the-capacity-to-coerce-declines-it-is_1452342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/noam-chomsky-42_authority_as-the-capacity-to-coerce-declines-it-is_1452342.jpg) > “As the capacity to coerce declines, it is natural to turn to control of opinion as the basis for authority and domination - a fundamental principle of government already emphasized by David Hume.” [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. When force weakens, authority shifts to shaping opinions, echoing Hume’s view that power relies on persuasion rather than coercion. **In simple terms:** Power moves from force to opinion control. Key Takeaway Question information sources. Themes politics media authority persuasion Mood critical skeptical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - journalism - public policy - education - activism Key Concepts Hume’s political theory propaganda Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify the credibility of information? - What strategies resist opinion control? A Different Perspective Persuasion can be subtle and hard to detect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Decline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decline/) [Domination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/domination/) [Fundamental principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental-principles/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [The great soul of power extends far beyond states, to every domain of life, from families to international affairs. 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