--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It seems self-evident that we should want…" description: "\"It seems self-evident that we should want people to be free, to be able to play an active part in making decisions about matters of concern to them, to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/noam-chomsky-42_able_it-seems-self-evident-that-we-should-wan_1139402.jpg" --- # It seems self-evident that we should want people to be… ![“It seems self-evident that we should want people to be free, to be able to play an active part in making decisions about matters of concern to them, to the largest possible extent.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/noam-chomsky-42_able_it-seems-self-evident-that-we-should-wan_1139402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/noam-chomsky-42_able_it-seems-self-evident-that-we-should-wan_1139402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/noam-chomsky-42_able_it-seems-self-evident-that-we-should-wan_1139402.jpg) > “It seems self-evident that we should want people to be free, to be able to play an active part in making decisions about matters of concern to them, to the largest possible extent.” [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. People should have maximal freedom to influence decisions affecting their lives. **In simple terms:** Freedom to decide is essential. Key Takeaway Promote participatory decision‑making. Themes democracy autonomy political theory Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - community councils - workplace committees - public policy design - grassroots activism Key Concepts social contract empowerment Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms ensure informed participation? - How to avoid decision‑making paralysis? A Different Perspective Balancing expertise and popular input can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Making decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-decisions/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [ It is self-evident that any and all paths must be open to a researcher during the actual course of his \[or her\] investigations. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-weierstrass/it-is-self-evident-that-any-and-all-paths-must-be-open-to-a/) Karl Weierstrass > [one of the tests of a theory is that, once grasped, it appears self-evident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/one-of-the-tests-of-a-theory-is-that-once-grasped-it-appears-self/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I set out on this ground, which I suppose to be self evident, "that the earth belongs in usufruct to the living": that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-set-out-on-this-ground-which-i-suppose-to-be-self-evident-that-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We have the self-evident right to regulate our trade according to our own will and our own interest . . . . This right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/we-have-the-self-evident-right-to-regulate-our-trade-according-to-our/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Our founders did not write that We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all US Persons are created equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/our-founders-did-not-write-that-we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Every truth passes through 3 stages before it is recognized 1)ridicule 2) opposition 3) accepted as self-evident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/every-truth-passes-through-3-stages-before-it-is-recognized-1/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“What is moral is self-evident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-theodor-vischer/what-is-moral-is-self-evident/) Friedrich Theodor Vischer > [Thomas Jefferson spoke of certain truths as self-evident. He did not say that these truths were self-explanatory or that they were self-operating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-martin-klotsche/thomas-jefferson-spoke-of-certain-truths-as-self-evident-he-did-not/) J. Martin Klotsche > [Two and two only supreme and luminously self-evident beings, myself and my Creator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/two-and-two-only-supreme-and-luminously-self-evident-beings-myself/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [An intelligent being, is the active principle of all things. One must have renounced all common sense to doubt it, and it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/an-intelligent-being-is-the-active-principle-of-all-things-one-must/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [I'd like to think that most of what I do is self-evident if you're listening to it or seeing it. But I don't mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-brion/i-d-like-to-think-that-most-of-what-i-do-is-self-evident-if-you-re/) [Jon Brion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-brion/) > [Travel challenges truths that we were raised thinking were self-evident and God-given. Leaving home, we learn other people find different truths to be self-evident.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/travel-challenges-truths-that-we-were-raised-thinking-were-self/) [Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/) > [When we were the political slaves of King George, and wanted to be free, we called the maxim that "all men are created equal"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/when-we-were-the-political-slaves-of-king-george-and-wanted-to-be/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Everything is self-evident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/everything-is-self-evident/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [If the truth were self-evident, eloquence would be unnecessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/if-the-truth-were-self-evident-eloquence-would-be-unnecessary/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## 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 Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. 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