--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Power has to be protected from scrutiny…" description: "\"Power has to be protected from scrutiny. That's the principle of every dictatorship, of every autocracy. You hear it from high priests at Harvard and e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/noam-chomsky-42_autocracy_power-has-to-be-protected-from-scrutiny_626490.jpg" --- # Power has to be protected from scrutiny. That's the… ![“Power has to be protected from scrutiny. That's the principle of every dictatorship, of every autocracy. You hear it from high priests at Harvard and every government department, that power has to be kept secret otherwise it will fade and it won't work. But Bradley Manning is violating that…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/noam-chomsky-42_autocracy_power-has-to-be-protected-from-scrutiny_626490.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/noam-chomsky-42_autocracy_power-has-to-be-protected-from-scrutiny_626490.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/noam-chomsky-42_autocracy_power-has-to-be-protected-from-scrutiny_626490.jpg) > “Power has to be protected from scrutiny. That's the principle of every dictatorship, of every autocracy. You hear it from high priests at Harvard and every government department, that power has to be kept secret otherwise it will fade and it won't work. But Bradley Manning is violating that principle.” [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. Power thrives when hidden; transparency threatens authoritarian control. **In simple terms:** Secret power stays strong; openness weakens it. Key Takeaway Demand openness, protect democracy. Themes politics authority transparency whistleblowing Mood critical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - government oversight - journalism - activism - legal reform Key Concepts authoritarianism democracy information control Questions to Reflect On - How does secrecy affect trust in institutions? - What mechanisms ensure accountability? A Different Perspective Power may be justified as necessary secrecy, but secrecy can enable abuse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autocracy/) [Bradley manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bradley-manning/) [Dictatorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictatorship/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Scrutiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scrutiny/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) ## Related quotes > [Bradley Manning should be regarded as a hero. He is doing what an honest, decent citizen should be doing: letting your population know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/bradley-manning-should-be-regarded-as-a-hero-he-is-doing-what-an/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Bradley Manning has been imprisoned without charge, under torture, which is what solitary confinement is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/bradley-manning-has-been-imprisoned-without-charge-under-torture/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It is a privilege to join the campaign to support Bradley Manning for his courage and integrity in serving his country by helping make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-is-a-privilege-to-join-the-campaign-to-support-bradley-manning-for/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Under capitalism, we can't have democracy by definition. Capitalism is a system in which the central institutions of society are in principle under autocratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/under-capitalism-we-can-t-have-democracy-by-definition-capitalism-is/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Army Specialist Bradley Manning deserves a medal, not prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/army-specialist-bradley-manning-deserves-a-medal-not-prison/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Bradley Manning is an American hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/bradley-manning-is-an-american-hero/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [I'm very interested in soldier recovery projects and in Bradley Manning's story, the army intelligence officer who's being held as a detainee and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eion-bailey/i-m-very-interested-in-soldier-recovery-projects-and-in-bradley/) Eion Bailey > [“Dotcom believes one of the reasons he was targeted was his support for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. He says he was compelled to reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fisher/dotcom-believes-one-of-the-reasons-he-was-targeted-was-his-support/) David Fisher > [In the end the Obama administration is not afraid of whistleblowers like me, Bradley Manning or Thomas Drake. We are stateless, imprisoned, or powerless.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/in-the-end-the-obama-administration-is-not-afraid-of-whistleblowers/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I think Assange has been very courageous. I've also defended Bradley Manning. I think they've been tremendously courageous in telling the truth, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/i-think-assange-has-been-very-courageous-i-ve-also-defended-bradley/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [If Bradley Manning was the person who copied the secret US diplomatic cables to WikilLeaks, he is a hero for exposing human rights abuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tatchell/if-bradley-manning-was-the-person-who-copied-the-secret-us-diplomatic/) [Peter Tatchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tatchell/) > [Those of us who believe in human rights and the truth - particularly the journalists and the media - should stand in defense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/those-of-us-who-believe-in-human-rights-and-the-truth-particularly/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [I am not Bradley Manning. I really never was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-manning/i-am-not-bradley-manning-i-really-never-was/) [Chelsea Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-manning/) > [I have another name for what they're terming whistleblowers, and that's righteous heroes. From Bradley Manning to Snowden. They're people of conscience who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/i-have-another-name-for-what-they-re-terming-whistleblowers-and-that/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [And if Bradley Manning really did as he is accused, he is a hero, an example to us all and one of the world's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/and-if-bradley-manning-really-did-as-he-is-accused-he-is-a-hero-an/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) ## 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 Autocracy quotes > [Orthodox churches, autocracy and national traditions are supposed to form a new national ideology in Russia. 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