--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ..people would like to think there's…" description: "\"“..people would like to think there's somebody up there who knows what he's doing. Since we don't participate, we don't control and we don't even think..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/noam-chomsky-42_chomsky-reader_people-would-like-to-think-there-s-someb_1687563.jpg" --- # ..people would like to think there's somebody up there who… ![“..people would like to think there's somebody up there who knows what he's doing. Since we don't participate, we don't control and we don't even think about the questions of crucial importance, we hope somebody is paying attention who has some competence. Let's hope the ship has a captain, in…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/noam-chomsky-42_chomsky-reader_people-would-like-to-think-there-s-someb_1687563.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/noam-chomsky-42_chomsky-reader_people-would-like-to-think-there-s-someb_1687563.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/noam-chomsky-42_chomsky-reader_people-would-like-to-think-there-s-someb_1687563.jpg) > ““..people would like to think there's somebody up there who knows what he's doing. Since we don't participate, we don't control and we don't even think about the questions of crucial importance, we hope somebody is paying attention who has some competence. Let's hope the ship has a captain, in other words, since we're not taking in deciding what's going on. I think that's a factor. But also, it is an important feature of the ideological system to impose on people the feeling that they are incompetent to deal with these complex and important issues; they'd better leave it to the captain. One device is to develop a star system, an array of figures who are often media creations or creations of the academic propaganda establishment, whose deep insights we are supposed to admire and to whom we must happily and confidently assign the right to control our lives and control international affairs.”” [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 are encouraged to defer complex decisions to perceived experts, creating dependence and reducing personal agency. **In simple terms:** Society often relies on experts, limiting individual involvement. Key Takeaway Question authority and seek personal understanding. Themes politics media authority Mood critical analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting decisions - media consumption - policy discussions Key Concepts critical thinking agency information control Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do experts have to the public? - How can individuals stay informed without feeling helpless? A Different Perspective Risk of cynicism if expertise is mistrusted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feature Ideological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feature-ideological-1019633/) [Ideological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideological/) [Ideological Impose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideological-impose-1019632/) [International affairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-affairs/) [Paying Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying-attention/) [Propaganda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propaganda/) [Propaganda Establishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propaganda-establishment-1019634/) ## Related quotes > [The great soul of power extends far beyond states, to every domain of life, from families to international affairs. And throughout, every form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-great-soul-of-power-extends-far-beyond-states-to-every-domain-of/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Over the years, there have been a series of concepts developed to justify the use of force in international affairs for a long period.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/over-the-years-there-have-been-a-series-of-concepts-developed-to/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [International affairs is very much run like the mafia. The godfather does not accept disobedience, even from a small storekeeper who doesn't pay his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/international-affairs-is-very-much-run-like-the-mafia-the-godfather/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If the most important revolutionary part of the George W. Bush Doctrine is that states that harbor terrorists are terrorist states, what do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-the-most-important-revolutionary-part-of-the-george-w-bush/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Quite generally, international affairs have more than a slight resemblance to the Mafia. The Godfather does not take it lightly when he is crossed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/quite-generally-international-affairs-have-more-than-a-slight/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If some small storekeeper somewhere decides he's not going to pay the money, the Godfather doesn't let him get away with it. The money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-some-small-storekeeper-somewhere-decides-he-s-not-going-to-pay-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [South America goes its own way dramatically in international affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/south-america-goes-its-own-way-dramatically-in-international-affairs/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Academics are mostly professionals, involved in their work and other concerns of their own, with no particular interest in the workings of the ideological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/academics-are-mostly-professionals-involved-in-their-work-and-other/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Insofar as the universities are free and independent, they will also be "subversive," in the sense that dominant structures of power and their ideological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/insofar-as-the-universities-are-free-and-independent-they-will-also/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American imperialism has suffered a stunning defeat in Indochina. But the same forces are engaged In another war against a much less resilient enemy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-imperialism-has-suffered-a-stunning-defeat-in-indochina-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Presented with the claims of nineteenth-century racist anthropology, a rational person will ask two sorts of questions: 'What is the scientific status of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/presented-with-the-claims-of-nineteenth-century-racist-anthropology-a/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I do think that Magna Carta and international law are worth paying some attention to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-do-think-that-magna-carta-and-international-law-are-worth-paying/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken seriously in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-know-have-pride-in-being-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [In any case, you read with exasperation or amusement the multiple errors in a story-and then turn the page to national or international affairs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/in-any-case-you-read-with-exasperation-or-amusement-the-multiple/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [There are nearly 200 countries and a population of over 6 billion in today's world. International affairs should be addressed by all countries through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-peng/there-are-nearly-200-countries-and-a-population-of-over-6-billion-in/) [Li Peng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-peng/) ## 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 Ideological quotes > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [“An ideological movement is a collection of people many of whom could hardly bake a cake, fix a car, sustain a friendship or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-minogue/an-ideological-movement-is-a-collection-of-people-many-of-whom-could/) [Kenneth Minogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-minogue/) > [Ideological bigotry has become the norm on even our most prestigious campuses, where students can go for years without reading or hearing anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/ideological-bigotry-has-become-the-norm-on-even-our-most-prestigious/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [The current demoralization of the art world is attributable at least in part to museum interference, ideological and practical, with ongoing creation in art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-rosenberg/the-current-demoralization-of-the-art-world-is-attributable-at-least/) [Harold Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-rosenberg/) > [We talk a lot about how abortion is a medical procedure, but actually if you look at what the other side is doing, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-northup/we-talk-a-lot-about-how-abortion-is-a-medical-procedure-but-actually/) [Nancy Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-northup/) > [I am devoting my lecture in this seminar to a discussion of the possibility that we are now entering a Jewish century, a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-a-siegel/i-am-devoting-my-lecture-in-this-seminar-to-a-discussion-of-the/) [Martin A. 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In my heart, literature remains a poetic and ambiguous medium.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xiaolu-guo/somehow-in-the-novel-format-i-don-t-really-like-to-do-upfront/) [Xiaolu Guo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xiaolu-guo/) > [Thousands of years of ideological, philosophical and practical decisions were made. They altered the surface of the earth, the coordinates of our souls. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/thousands-of-years-of-ideological-philosophical-and-practical/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Christians are supposed to love each other. Communists are supposed to share bonds with all proletarians and other communists. 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Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [The current health care takeover proposals feature a crucial payoff to Big Labor - a golden exemption from any tax on union members' generous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-malkin/the-current-health-care-takeover-proposals-feature-a-crucial-payoff/) [Michelle Malkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-malkin/) > [When established identities become outworn or unfinished ones threaten to remain incomplete, special crises compel men to wage holy wars, by the cruelest means,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-established-identities-become-outworn-or-unfinished-ones/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 451 Ideological quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideological/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“..people would like to think there's somebody up there who knows what he's doing. Since we don't participate, we don't control and we don't even think about the questions of crucial importance, we hope somebody is paying attention who has some competence. Let's hope the ship has a captain, in other words, since we're not taking in deciding what's going on. I think that's a factor. But also, it is an important feature of the ideological system to impose on people the feeling that they are incompetent to deal with these complex and important issues; they'd better leave it to the captain. One device is to develop a star system, an array of figures who are often media creations or creations of the academic propaganda establishment, whose deep insights we are supposed to admire and to whom we must happily and confidently assign the right to control our lives and control international affairs.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Noam Chomsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/people-would-like-to-think-there-s-somebody-up-there-who-knows-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ideological" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/people-would-like-to-think-there-s-somebody-up-there-who-knows-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/noam-chomsky-42_chomsky-reader_people-would-like-to-think-there-s-someb_1687563.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/noam-chomsky-42_chomsky-reader_people-would-like-to-think-there-s-someb_1687563.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/noam-chomsky-42_chomsky-reader_people-would-like-to-think-there-s-someb_1687563.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“..people would like to think there's somebody up there who knows what he's doing. 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