--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Syria is bad enough, it's a pretty…" description: "\"Syria is bad enough, it's a pretty terrible atrocity. But there are much worse ones in the world. So for example, the worst atrocities in the past deca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/noam-chomsky-42_atrocities_syria-is-bad-enough-it-s-a-pretty-terrib_3145189.jpg" --- # Syria is bad enough, it's a pretty terrible atrocity. But… ![“Syria is bad enough, it's a pretty terrible atrocity. But there are much worse ones in the world. So for example, the worst atrocities in the past decade have been in the Congo, the Eastern Congo, where maybe 5 million people have been killed.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/noam-chomsky-42_atrocities_syria-is-bad-enough-it-s-a-pretty-terrib_3145189.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/noam-chomsky-42_atrocities_syria-is-bad-enough-it-s-a-pretty-terrib_3145189.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/037/noam-chomsky-42_atrocities_syria-is-bad-enough-it-s-a-pretty-terrib_3145189.jpg) > “Syria is bad enough, it's a pretty terrible atrocity. But there are much worse ones in the world. So for example, the worst atrocities in the past decade have been in the Congo, the Eastern Congo, where maybe 5 million people have been killed.” [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. The speaker acknowledges Syria’s suffering but highlights even larger atrocities elsewhere, urging broader perspective on human cruelty. **In simple terms:** Syria is terrible, but worse events exist. Key Takeaway Recognize all suffering, not just the most visible. Themes human rights global awareness comparative suffering Mood somber reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - Humanitarian aid planning - policy advocacy - education curricula - media reporting Key Concepts Moral relativism media bias Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance attention between multiple crises? - What criteria should guide humanitarian priorities? A Different Perspective Focusing on worse crimes can diminish urgency for current crises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atrocities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atrocities/) [Congo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congo/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [scientific whaling, and other lies will be exposed and become atrocities of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-irwin/scientific-whaling-and-other-lies-will-be-exposed-and-become/) [Steve Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-irwin/) > [ I would've written this story \[Django\] if \[Barack\] Obama were president or if he never existed. For one, I think it's time to tell… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/i-would-ve-written-this-story-django-if-barack-obama-were-president/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [None of the participants ever arrived at a clear understanding of the actual horror of Auschwitz, which is of a different nature from all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/none-of-the-participants-ever-arrived-at-a-clear-understanding-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I also think regime change in Syria is a bad idea. And that's an ongoing question. It's one of the things I like about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-also-think-regime-change-in-syria-is-a-bad-idea-and-that-s-an/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [“I don't know how to stop the atrocities. I don't know how to make people care. But looking into my sister's eyes, we seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-shannon/i-don-t-know-how-to-stop-the-atrocities-i-don-t-know-how-to-make/) [Lisa Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-shannon/) > [“I wish that Hochschild would come clean on the litany of other errors I catalogue in my essay: Conrad could not have seen any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-gilley/i-wish-that-hochschild-would-come-clean-on-the-litany-of-other-errors/) [Bruce Gilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-gilley/) > [“I hope you don't get stuck in the atrocities of your past. For others, it may just be a story but for people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-alvi/i-hope-you-don-t-get-stuck-in-the-atrocities-of-your-past-for-others/) [Kamil Alvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-alvi/) > [“I wonder what brought us here? The analogy of our situation or the void we want to fill? Perhaps, our previous journey was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-alvi/i-wonder-what-brought-us-here-the-analogy-of-our-situation-or-the/) [Kamil Alvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-alvi/) > [ The main mineral in your cellphone, coltan \[a black metallic ore\], comes from the Eastern Congo. Multinational corporations are there exploiting the very rich… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-main-mineral-in-your-cellphone-coltan-a-black-metallic-ore-comes/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The murder of Lumumba, in which the U.S. was involved, in the Congo destroyed Africa's major hope for development. Congo is now total horror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-murder-of-lumumba-in-which-the-u-s-was-involved-in-the-congo/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Some kind of settlement in Kashmir is crucial for both India and Pakistan. It's also tearing India apart with horrible atrocities in the region…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/some-kind-of-settlement-in-kashmir-is-crucial-for-both-india-and/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Reparations - not just aid - should be provided by those responsible for devastating Iraqi civilian society by cruel sanctions and military actions, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/reparations-not-just-aid-should-be-provided-by-those-responsible-for/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The atrocities in Cambodia are a direct and understandable response to the violence of the imperial system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-atrocities-in-cambodia-are-a-direct-and-understandable-response/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Well before September 11, it was understood that with modern technology, the rich and powerful will lose their near monopoly of the means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/well-before-september-11-it-was-understood-that-with-modern/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“If you don't recognize your own crimes, there's no impediment to continuing them. There's a pretty dramatic example of that right at this moment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-don-t-recognize-your-own-crimes-there-s-no-impediment-to/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## 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 Atrocities quotes > [A furious Peeta hammers Haymitch with the atrocity he could become party to, but I can feel Haymitch watching me. 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It is possible that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-de-waal/i-do-not-know-where-viktor-and-rudolf-were-taken-i-cannot-find-the/) [Edmund de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-de-waal/) > [I have become convinced, through my studies, that the only way to achieve a safe, just and viable world is to live by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/i-have-become-convinced-through-my-studies-that-the-only-way-to/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Yet only the atrocities of the conquered are referred to as criminal acts; those of the conqueror are justified as necessary, heroic, and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-fergus/yet-only-the-atrocities-of-the-conquered-are-referred-to-as-criminal/) [Jim Fergus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-fergus/) > [“I don't know how to stop the atrocities. I don't know how to make people care. But looking into my sister's eyes, we seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-shannon/i-don-t-know-how-to-stop-the-atrocities-i-don-t-know-how-to-make/) [Lisa Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-shannon/) > [War is horrible no matter what. There's going to be atrocities, there's going to be horrible things that happen in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-hoffman/war-is-horrible-no-matter-what-there-s-going-to-be-atrocities-there-s/) Mike Hoffman > [Man is the only animal that deals in that atrocity of atrocities War. He is the only one that gathers his brethren about him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/man-is-the-only-animal-that-deals-in-that-atrocity-of-atrocities-war/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Well before September 11, it was understood that with modern technology, the rich and powerful will lose their near monopoly of the means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/well-before-september-11-it-was-understood-that-with-modern/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Every Christian who studies history can only grieve over the atrocities that have been committed in the name of God by people who refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berit-kjos/every-christian-who-studies-history-can-only-grieve-over-the/) Berit Kjos > [Fanatics can justify practically any atrocity to themselves. 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