--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Popular struggles to bring about a freer…" description: "\"Popular struggles to bring about a freer and more just society have been resisted by violence and repression, and massive efforts to control opinion an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f02/noam-chomsky-42_about_popular-struggles-to-bring-about-a-freer_2079738.jpg" --- # Popular struggles to bring about a freer and more just… ![“Popular struggles to bring about a freer and more just society have been resisted by violence and repression, and massive efforts to control opinion and attitudes. Over time, however, they have met with considerable success, even though there is a long way to go, and there is often regression.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f02/noam-chomsky-42_about_popular-struggles-to-bring-about-a-freer_2079738.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f02/noam-chomsky-42_about_popular-struggles-to-bring-about-a-freer_2079738.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f02/noam-chomsky-42_about_popular-struggles-to-bring-about-a-freer_2079738.jpg) > “Popular struggles to bring about a freer and more just society have been resisted by violence and repression, and massive efforts to control opinion and attitudes. Over time, however, they have met with considerable success, even though there is a long way to go, and there is often regression.” [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. Efforts for freedom face violent resistance and propaganda, yet progress occurs despite setbacks and ongoing regression. **In simple terms:** Freedom struggles meet repression but still advance. Key Takeaway Persist despite obstacles. Themes freedom justice political resistance media control Mood determined critical Type political inspirational When to use this quote - activism - policy reform - education campaigns Key Concepts social movements authoritarianism public opinion Questions to Reflect On - What strategies can sustain momentum after setbacks? - How can societies guard against regression? A Different Perspective Repression can temporarily stall but not halt change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Attitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitudes/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Bring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring/) [Considerable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considerable/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Efforts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efforts/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Freer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freer/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [However](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/however/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Just Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-society/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-way/) [Long way to go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-way-to-go/) [Massive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/massive/) [Met](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/met/) [Mets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mets/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Often](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/often/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over/) [Popular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popular/) [Popular Struggles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popular-struggles-4055244/) [Regression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regression/) [Repression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repression/) [Resisted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resisted/) [Resisted Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resisted-violence-4055246/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Society Resisted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-resisted-4055245/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggles/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Though](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/though/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Violence Repression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence-repression-1204727/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [For decades, we resisted violence - until Sharpeville.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/for-decades-we-resisted-violence-until-sharpeville/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [This much is clear: violence breeds violence, repression brings retaliation, and only a cleansing of our whole society can remove this sickness from our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/this-much-is-clear-violence-breeds-violence-repression-brings/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) > [See how it's a philosophy that's been handed to you by a bunch of men who were afraid. So instead, they overcompensate with hatred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/see-how-it-s-a-philosophy-that-s-been-handed-to-you-by-a-bunch-of-men/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The more words we are allowed to take, the freer we become. If our mouth is banned, then we attempt to assert ourselves through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herta-m-ller/the-more-words-we-are-allowed-to-take-the-freer-we-become-if-our/) [Herta Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herta-m-ller/) > [You are freer if you have no one to love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishu-sharma/you-are-freer-if-you-have-no-one-to-love-you/) [Nishu\_sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishu-sharma/) > [I think sometimes if you are alone, you are freer because your time is your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/i-think-sometimes-if-you-are-alone-you-are-freer-because-your-time-is/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [The more controlled, limited and tormented art is, the freer it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-stravinsky/the-more-controlled-limited-and-tormented-art-is-the-freer-it-is/) [Igor Stravinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-stravinsky/) > [To me, writing is much freer than dancing. With writing, you could do it whenever you wanted. You didn't have to do little exercises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/to-me-writing-is-much-freer-than-dancing-with-writing-you-could-do-it/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [A kindness received should be returned with a freer hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-kindness-received-should-be-returned-with-a-freer-hand/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was pregnant with my first child during 'Stop/Kiss,' and for whatever reason, the fact that I was so physically uncomfortable allowed me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hecht/i-was-pregnant-with-my-first-child-during-stop-kiss-and-for-whatever/) [Jessica Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hecht/) > [The more one does what is good. The freer one becomes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feona-kathleene/the-more-one-does-what-is-good-the-freer-one-becomes/) [Feona Kathleene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feona-kathleene/) > [For many years I have advocated 'redesigning Parliament' in a variety of ways - elect the Senate, do away with the 'confidence convention,' permit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preston-manning/for-many-years-i-have-advocated-redesigning-parliament-in-a-variety/) [Preston Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preston-manning/) > [I'm very comfortable with men - they're freer and a lot of fun!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-hoeks/i-m-very-comfortable-with-men-they-re-freer-and-a-lot-of-fun/) [Sylvia Hoeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-hoeks/) > [I know a lot of people feel like they get eaten alive by New York, but I feel it more as a father figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dev-hynes/i-know-a-lot-of-people-feel-like-they-get-eaten-alive-by-new-york-but/) [Dev Hynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dev-hynes/) > [Real freedom is having nothing. I was freer when I didn't have a cent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/real-freedom-is-having-nothing-i-was-freer-when-i-didn-t-have-a-cent/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) ## 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. 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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 About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. 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As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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