---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Suppose I criticise Iran. What impact…"
description: "\"Suppose I criticise Iran. What impact does that have? The only impact it has is in fortifying those who want to carry out policies I don't agree with, ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/noam-chomsky-42_agree_suppose-i-criticise-iran-what-impact-doe_2761393.jpg"
---

#  Suppose I criticise Iran. What impact does that have? The…

![“Suppose I criticise Iran. What impact does that have? The only impact it has is in fortifying those who want to carry out policies I don't agree with, like bombing.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/noam-chomsky-42_agree_suppose-i-criticise-iran-what-impact-doe_2761393.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/noam-chomsky-42_agree_suppose-i-criticise-iran-what-impact-doe_2761393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/noam-chomsky-42_agree_suppose-i-criticise-iran-what-impact-doe_2761393.jpg)

> “Suppose I criticise Iran. What impact does that have? The only impact it has is in fortifying those who want to carry out policies I don't agree with, like bombing.”

[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.

Criticizing a nation can unintentionally strengthen extremist narratives that oppose your view.

**In simple terms:** Criticism may empower opponents.

Key Takeaway

Consider the broader impact of your words.

Themes

politics media communication

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

analytical critical

When to use this quote

- policy debates
- social media posts
- academic discussions

Key Concepts

propaganda psychology public discourse

Questions to Reflect On

- How might your criticism be framed to avoid reinforcing opposition?
- What alternative approaches could promote constructive dialogue?

A Different Perspective

Effectiveness depends on audience and context.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Agree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agree/) [Bombing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombing/) [Carry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carry/) [Criticise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticise/) [Criticise Iran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticise-iran-3173023/) [Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does/) [Does Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does-impact-3173024/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Iran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran/) [Iran Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran-impact-3173022/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Policies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policies/) [Suppose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suppose/) [Suppose Criticise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suppose-criticise-3173025/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/)

## Related quotes

> [I think anything that anybody does can get an impact from anybody, if that makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-poole/i-think-anything-that-anybody-does-can-get-an-impact-from-anybody-if/)

[Jordan Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-poole/)

> [From the U.S. point of view, negotiations are, in effect, a way for Israel to continue its policies of systematically taking over whatever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/from-the-u-s-point-of-view-negotiations-are-in-effect-a-way-for/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Israel is following policies which maximise its security threats... policies which choose expansion over security... policies which lead to their moral degradation, their isolation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/israel-is-following-policies-which-maximise-its-security-threats/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Obama's policies have been approximately the same as Bush's, though there have been some slight differences, but that's not a great surprise. The Democrats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/obama-s-policies-have-been-approximately-the-same-as-bush-s-though/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [The Federal Reserve has an official commitment to two different policies. One is to prevent inflation from getting too high. The second is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-federal-reserve-has-an-official-commitment-to-two-different/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [In general, I think, U.S. policies remain constant, going back to the Second World War. But the capacity to implement them is declining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/in-general-i-think-u-s-policies-remain-constant-going-back-to-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [The poorest country in South America, Bolivia, had been devastated by neoliberal economic policies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-poorest-country-in-south-america-bolivia-had-been-devastated-by/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [To criticise a person for their race is a manifestly irrational and ridiculous. But to criticise their religion - that is a right. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/to-criticise-a-person-for-their-race-is-a-manifestly-irrational-and/)

[Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/)

> [Personally, I hope that we British continue to criticise America - just as I hope Americans will criticise us. That is what friends do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/personally-i-hope-that-we-british-continue-to-criticise-america-just/)

[Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/)

> [“Who is the wrong person to criticise? You”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/who-is-the-wrong-person-to-criticise-you/)

[Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/)

> [In my world, I have to keep my counsel at times, accept players are going to criticise various things, accuse you of various things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-pardew/in-my-world-i-have-to-keep-my-counsel-at-times-accept-players-are/)

[Alan Pardew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-pardew/)

> [A law which attempts to say you can criticise and ridicule ideas as long as they are not religious ideas is a very peculiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/a-law-which-attempts-to-say-you-can-criticise-and-ridicule-ideas-as/)

[Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/)

> [It was just this interesting, my first, the first time you hear your child in any way criticize you. It's the worst review of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tea-leoni/it-was-just-this-interesting-my-first-the-first-time-you-hear-your/)

[Tea Leoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tea-leoni/)

> [The worst thing is when people criticise you and you go, 'Yeah, you're right.' It's really hard to take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckley/the-worst-thing-is-when-people-criticise-you-and-you-go-yeah-you-re/)

[James Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckley/)

> [Choosing how you live should be up to you not the people that would criticise your well being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-hayward/choosing-how-you-live-should-be-up-to-you-not-the-people-that-would/)

[Courtney Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-hayward/)

## 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 Agree quotes

> [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/)

[Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/)

> [“All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/all-these-creatures-spend-their-time-explaining-realizing-happily/)

[Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/)

> [I talk to fashion designers and say I want some money to save the rainforest, and they say, 'Oh, I agree with you completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-talk-to-fashion-designers-and-say-i-want-some-money-to-save-the/)

[Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/)

> [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [Never be afraid of doing the thing you know in your heart is right, even if others don't agree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/never-be-afraid-of-doing-the-thing-you-know-in-your-heart-is-right/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [ I will not agree to have this bill \[to repeal DADT \] go forward, because our economy is in the tank. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-repeal-dadt-go-forward-because/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

> [“I tend to agree with that little devil more and more these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-casey/i-tend-to-agree-with-that-little-devil-more-and-more-these-days/)

[Elle Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-casey/)

> [People might not agree with me, but I think a woman should have a feminine shape, something you can get your hands on. You,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/people-might-not-agree-with-me-but-i-think-a-woman-should-have-a/)

[Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/)

> [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [But I would say if the Security Council is only relevant if it agrees with the United States, then we have come a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/but-i-would-say-if-the-security-council-is-only-relevant-if-it-agrees/)

[Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/)

> [We're never all going to agree with each other. We have to learn to value the diversity. It's one of the presumable principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/we-re-never-all-going-to-agree-with-each-other-we-have-to-learn-to/)

[Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/)

> [A contract is an ask game, and if it asks for an hour, and I submit to an hour, then it's an hour. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/a-contract-is-an-ask-game-and-if-it-asks-for-an-hour-and-i-submit-to/)

[Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/)

[Browse all 3,079 Agree quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agree/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Suppose I criticise Iran. What impact does that have? The only impact it has is in fortifying those who want to carry out policies I don't agree with, like bombing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Noam Chomsky"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/suppose-i-criticise-iran-what-impact-does-that-have-the-only-impact/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Agree"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/suppose-i-criticise-iran-what-impact-does-that-have-the-only-impact/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/noam-chomsky-42_agree_suppose-i-criticise-iran-what-impact-doe_2761393.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/noam-chomsky-42_agree_suppose-i-criticise-iran-what-impact-doe_2761393.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/noam-chomsky-42_agree_suppose-i-criticise-iran-what-impact-doe_2761393.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Suppose I criticise Iran. What impact does that have? The only impact it has is in fortifying those who want…” — 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": "Suppose I criticise Iran. What impact...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/suppose-i-criticise-iran-what-impact-does-that-have-the-only-impact/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/suppose-i-criticise-iran-what-impact-does-that-have-the-only-impact/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
