---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Governments are supposed to lie to their…"
description: "\"Governments are supposed to lie to their citizens.\" — Noam Chomsky"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/noam-chomsky-42_citizens_governments-are-supposed-to-lie-to-their_2374409.jpg"
---

#  Governments are supposed to lie to their citizens.

![“Governments are supposed to lie to their citizens.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/noam-chomsky-42_citizens_governments-are-supposed-to-lie-to-their_2374409.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/noam-chomsky-42_citizens_governments-are-supposed-to-lie-to-their_2374409.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/noam-chomsky-42_citizens_governments-are-supposed-to-lie-to-their_2374409.jpg)

> “Governments are supposed to lie to their citizens.”

[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.

Governments often conceal truth from the public to maintain control and avoid dissent.

**In simple terms:** Governments lie to keep power.

Key Takeaway

Question critically, demand transparency.

Themes

politics truth power media trust

Mood

skeptical inquisitive

Type

political critical

When to use this quote

- elections
- journalism
- civic engagement
- policy debates

Key Concepts

propaganda information control public accountability

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you verify information from authorities?
- What mechanisms ensure governmental honesty?

A Different Perspective

Lies can erode trust and provoke backlash.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments/) [Governments Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments-supposed-5273412/) [Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie/) [Lie Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie-citizens-4200401/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposed/) [Supposed Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposed-lie-2048110/)

## Related quotes

> [Governments are supposed to operate under a system of collective responsibility. It means that in public, all Ministers support the agreed policies of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/governments-are-supposed-to-operate-under-a-system-of-collective/)

[Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/)

> [WikiLeaks is exposing our government officials for the frauds that they are. They also show us how governments work together to lie to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/wikileaks-is-exposing-our-government-officials-for-the-frauds-that/)

[Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/)

> [If life is a performance, and I am not an actor, am I supposed to lie down and die?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/if-life-is-a-performance-and-i-am-not-an-actor-am-i-supposed-to-lie/)

[Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/)

> [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 walk away. I walk away from the voices, the shouts, the disappointment. I walk away from my deceptions, my mistakes, my regrets. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-a-tucker/i-walk-away-i-walk-away-from-the-voices-the-shouts-the-disappointment/)

[K.A. Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-a-tucker/)

> [“And so I walk away. I walk away from the voices, the shouts, the disappointment. I walk away from my deceptions, my mistakes, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-a-tucker/and-so-i-walk-away-i-walk-away-from-the-voices-the-shouts-the/)

[K.A. Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-a-tucker/)

> [“Supposed to” is a lie. A fairy tale. It is the stealer of peace and productivity. It is the leading cause of Obsessive Comparison…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-angone/supposed-to-is-a-lie-a-fairy-tale-it-is-the-stealer-of-peace-and/)

[Paul Angone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-angone/)

> [“This planet is a broken bone that didn’t set right, a hundred pieces of crystal glued together. We’ve been shattered and reconstructed, told to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/this-planet-is-a-broken-bone-that-didn-t-set-right-a-hundred-pieces/)

[Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/)

> [“We've been shattered and reconstructed, told to make an effort every single day to pretend we still function the way we're supposed to. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/we-ve-been-shattered-and-reconstructed-told-to-make-an-effort-every/)

[Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/)

> [This planet is a broken bone that didnt set right, a hundred pieces of crystal glued together. Weve been shattered and reconstructed, told to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-planet-is-a-broken-bone-that-didnt-set-right-a-hundred-pieces-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Bad governments always lie because telling the truth requires honour and courage!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/bad-governments-always-lie-because-telling-the-truth-requires-honour/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [After the ignominious collapse of the Copenhagen global climate change summit in 2009, Bolivia organised a People's Summit with 35,000 participants from 140 countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/after-the-ignominious-collapse-of-the-copenhagen-global-climate/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Intellectuals are in a position to expose the lies of governments, to analyze actions according to their causes and motives and often hidden intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/intellectuals-are-in-a-position-to-expose-the-lies-of-governments-to/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Governments are not representative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-are-not-representative/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Globalization is the result of powerful governments, especially that of the United States, pushing trade deals and other accords down the throats of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/globalization-is-the-result-of-powerful-governments-especially-that/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

## 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 Citizens quotes

> [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/)

[Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/)

> [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/)

[Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/)

> [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/)

[S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/)

[Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/)

> [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/)

[Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/)

> [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/)

[Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/)

> [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/)

[Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/)

> [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/)

[Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/)

> [Without the ability to talk about government power, there's no way for citizens to make sure this power isn't being misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/without-the-ability-to-talk-about-government-power-there-s-no-way-for/)

[Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/)

> [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [What I will stand up for is what I think is right and for the best interests of the citizens of the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-judge/what-i-will-stand-up-for-is-what-i-think-is-right-and-for-the-best/)

[Patty Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-judge/)

[Browse all 4,189 Citizens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Governments are supposed to lie to their citizens.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Noam Chomsky"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-are-supposed-to-lie-to-their-citizens/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Citizens"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-are-supposed-to-lie-to-their-citizens/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/noam-chomsky-42_citizens_governments-are-supposed-to-lie-to-their_2374409.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/noam-chomsky-42_citizens_governments-are-supposed-to-lie-to-their_2374409.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/noam-chomsky-42_citizens_governments-are-supposed-to-lie-to-their_2374409.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Governments are supposed to lie to their citizens.” — Noam Chomsky",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Noam Chomsky",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Governments are supposed to lie to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-are-supposed-to-lie-to-their-citizens/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-are-supposed-to-lie-to-their-citizens/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
