--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Respectable opinion would never consider…" description: "\"“Respectable opinion would never consider an assessment of the Reagan Doctrine or earlier exercises in terms of their actual human costs, and could not..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01c/noam-chomsky-42_american-imperialism_respectable-opinion-would-never-consider_3095937.jpg" --- # Respectable opinion would never consider an assessment of… ![“Respectable opinion would never consider an assessment of the Reagan Doctrine or earlier exercises in terms of their actual human costs, and could not comprehend that such an assessment—which would yield a monstrous toll if accurately conducted on a global scale—might perhaps be a proper task in…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01c/noam-chomsky-42_american-imperialism_respectable-opinion-would-never-consider_3095937.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01c/noam-chomsky-42_american-imperialism_respectable-opinion-would-never-consider_3095937.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01c/noam-chomsky-42_american-imperialism_respectable-opinion-would-never-consider_3095937.jpg) > ““Respectable opinion would never consider an assessment of the Reagan Doctrine or earlier exercises in terms of their actual human costs, and could not comprehend that such an assessment—which would yield a monstrous toll if accurately conducted on a global scale—might perhaps be a proper task in the United States. At the same level of integrity, disciplined Soviet intellectuals are horrified over real or alleged American crimes, but perceive their own only as benevolent intent gone awry, or errors of an earlier day, now overcome; the comparison is inexact and unfair, since Soviet intellectuals can plead fear as an excuse for their services to state violence.”” [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. He argues that assessments of foreign policies often ignore human costs, while similar scrutiny of domestic abuses is avoided, revealing double standards. **In simple terms:** Policy critiques ignore human costs, showing bias. Key Takeaway Apply consistent moral standards globally. Themes ethics policy double standard Mood critical analytical Type academic political commentary When to use this quote - journalism - academic research - policy debate - humanitarian aid Key Concepts political analysis human rights historical context Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure unbiased evaluation of all actions? - What mechanisms expose hidden costs? A Different Perspective Political pressures may suppress honest assessments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American imperialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-imperialism/) [Assessment Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assessment-reagan-5344058/) [Consensus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consensus/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Hypocrisy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypocrisy/) [Intellectuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectuals/) [Intellectuals Horrified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectuals-horrified-5344061/) [International law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-law/) [Nationalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nationalism/) [Reagan Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reagan-doctrine-5344059/) [Ronald reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ronald-reagan/) [Soviet Intellectuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet-intellectuals-5344062/) [Soviet union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet-union/) [Unfair Soviet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfair-soviet-5344060/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [War crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-crimes/) ## Related quotes > [American imperialism is often traced to the takeover of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii in 1898.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-imperialism-is-often-traced-to-the-takeover-of-cuba-puerto/) [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/) > [“Israel's demonstration of its military prowess in 1967 confirmed its status as a 'strategic asset,' as did its moves to prevent Syrian intervention in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/israel-s-demonstration-of-its-military-prowess-in-1967-confirmed-its/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“The two main criminals are France and the United States. They owe Haiti enormous reparations because of actions going back hundreds of years. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-two-main-criminals-are-france-and-the-united-states-they-owe/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“One commonly hears that carping critics complain about what is wrong, but do not present solutions. There is an accurate translation for that charge:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/one-commonly-hears-that-carping-critics-complain-about-what-is-wrong/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“As to the efficacy of the policy recommended by Rostow, it speaks for itself: no country, once underdeveloped, ever managed to develop By Rostow's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-gunder-frank/as-to-the-efficacy-of-the-policy-recommended-by-rostow-it-speaks-for/) [André Gunder Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-gunder-frank/) > [It is important to eliminate the stigma created by American imperialism and its allies regarding the Cuban political system. That stigma must be eliminated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-castro-espin/it-is-important-to-eliminate-the-stigma-created-by-american/) [Alejandro Castro Espin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-castro-espin/) > [Love is the most dangerous thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-beals/love-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-in-the-world/) [Jennifer Beals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-beals/) > [“Among the privileges of being a superpower, the right and the ability to make a local quarrel into a global one ranks very high.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/among-the-privileges-of-being-a-superpower-the-right-and-the-ability/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Eventually my rejection of authority spilled into self-indulgence and self-destructiveness, and by the time I enrolled in college, I'd begun to see how any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/eventually-my-rejection-of-authority-spilled-into-self-indulgence-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I am an anti-imperialist. I am opposed to having the eagle put its talons on any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-am-an-anti-imperialist-i-am-opposed-to-having-the-eagle-put-its/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Monotonous talk of the end of American hegemony, the universal cliché of the period, is mostly a way of avoiding mounting a serious opposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/monotonous-talk-of-the-end-of-american-hegemony-the-universal-clich/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [An intelligence that is not humane is the most dangerous thing in the world .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/an-intelligence-that-is-not-humane-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-in-the/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [Canada's ruling circles seek to ally themselves more closely with American imperialism without giving up the economic advantages of membership in the British Empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-buck/canada-s-ruling-circles-seek-to-ally-themselves-more-closely-with/) [Tim Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-buck/) > [American imperialism has always been the imperialism that has been frightened of speaking its name. Now it's beginning to do so. In a way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/american-imperialism-has-always-been-the-imperialism-that-has-been/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) ## 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 American imperialism quotes > [American imperialism has always been the imperialism that has been frightened of speaking its name. Now it's beginning to do so. In a way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/american-imperialism-has-always-been-the-imperialism-that-has-been/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [Canada's ruling circles seek to ally themselves more closely with American imperialism without giving up the economic advantages of membership in the British Empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-buck/canada-s-ruling-circles-seek-to-ally-themselves-more-closely-with/) [Tim Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-buck/) > [An intelligence that is not humane is the most dangerous thing in the world .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/an-intelligence-that-is-not-humane-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-in-the/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [“Monotonous talk of the end of American hegemony, the universal cliché of the period, is mostly a way of avoiding mounting a serious opposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/monotonous-talk-of-the-end-of-american-hegemony-the-universal-clich/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [I am an anti-imperialist. I am opposed to having the eagle put its talons on any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-am-an-anti-imperialist-i-am-opposed-to-having-the-eagle-put-its/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“One commonly hears that carping critics complain about what is wrong, but do not present solutions. There is an accurate translation for that charge:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/one-commonly-hears-that-carping-critics-complain-about-what-is-wrong/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Eventually my rejection of authority spilled into self-indulgence and self-destructiveness, and by the time I enrolled in college, I'd begun to see how any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/eventually-my-rejection-of-authority-spilled-into-self-indulgence-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Among the privileges of being a superpower, the right and the ability to make a local quarrel into a global one ranks very high.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/among-the-privileges-of-being-a-superpower-the-right-and-the-ability/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Love is the most dangerous thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-beals/love-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-in-the-world/) [Jennifer Beals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-beals/) > [It is important to eliminate the stigma created by American imperialism and its allies regarding the Cuban political system. That stigma must be eliminated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-castro-espin/it-is-important-to-eliminate-the-stigma-created-by-american/) [Alejandro Castro Espin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-castro-espin/) > [“As to the efficacy of the policy recommended by Rostow, it speaks for itself: no country, once underdeveloped, ever managed to develop By Rostow's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-gunder-frank/as-to-the-efficacy-of-the-policy-recommended-by-rostow-it-speaks-for/) [André Gunder Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-gunder-frank/) > [“America capital has taken up this easy banner of world disorder and we are simply the poor willing fools that follow on behind. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-aldridge/america-capital-has-taken-up-this-easy-banner-of-world-disorder-and/) [James Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-aldridge/) > [Theres no hope, none, of ever talking about it without pissing somebody, if not everybody, off...By the end of this hour I will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/theres-no-hope-none-of-ever-talking-about-it-without-pissing-somebody/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [Today, in American imperialism, the commodity has reached its most grandiose historical manifestation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-r-james/today-in-american-imperialism-the-commodity-has-reached-its-most/) [C. L. R. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-r-james/) > [“The two main criminals are France and the United States. They owe Haiti enormous reparations because of actions going back hundreds of years. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-two-main-criminals-are-france-and-the-united-states-they-owe/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Browse all 37 American imperialism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-imperialism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Respectable opinion would never consider an assessment of the Reagan Doctrine or earlier exercises in terms of their actual human costs, and could not comprehend that such an assessment—which would yield a monstrous toll if accurately conducted on a global scale—might perhaps be a proper task in the United States. At the same level of integrity, disciplined Soviet intellectuals are horrified over real or alleged American crimes, but perceive their own only as benevolent intent gone awry, or errors of an earlier day, now overcome; the comparison is inexact and unfair, since Soviet intellectuals can plead fear as an excuse for their services to state violence.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Noam Chomsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/respectable-opinion-would-never-consider-an-assessment-of-the-reagan/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American imperialism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/respectable-opinion-would-never-consider-an-assessment-of-the-reagan/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01c/noam-chomsky-42_american-imperialism_respectable-opinion-would-never-consider_3095937.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01c/noam-chomsky-42_american-imperialism_respectable-opinion-would-never-consider_3095937.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01c/noam-chomsky-42_american-imperialism_respectable-opinion-would-never-consider_3095937.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Respectable opinion would never consider an assessment of the Reagan Doctrine or earlier exercises in terms…” — 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": "“Respectable opinion would never consider an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/respectable-opinion-would-never-consider-an-assessment-of-the-reagan/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/respectable-opinion-would-never-consider-an-assessment-of-the-reagan/#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 } } ] } ```