--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The attack on Social Security is…" description: "\"The attack on Social Security is similarly motivated. Social Security is based on the conception is that we should have sympathy for others, not functi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/noam-chomsky-42_conception_the-attack-on-social-security-is-similar_2548632.jpg" --- # The attack on Social Security is similarly motivated… ![“The attack on Social Security is similarly motivated. Social Security is based on the conception is that we should have sympathy for others, not function merely as isolated "rational wealth maximizers."” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/noam-chomsky-42_conception_the-attack-on-social-security-is-similar_2548632.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/noam-chomsky-42_conception_the-attack-on-social-security-is-similar_2548632.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/noam-chomsky-42_conception_the-attack-on-social-security-is-similar_2548632.jpg) > “The attack on Social Security is similarly motivated. Social Security is based on the conception is that we should have sympathy for others, not function merely as isolated "rational wealth maximizers."” [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. Social Security should be about collective sympathy, not isolated profit motives **In simple terms:** Social Security is about caring for others, not selfish gain Key Takeaway Promote solidarity, reject pure rational self‑interest Themes social policy ethics solidarity Mood concerned analytical Type essay political When to use this quote - public policy debates - social safety nets - political activism Key Concepts welfare economics humanism Questions to Reflect On - How can we shift public perception toward empathy? - What policies embody collective care? A Different Perspective Political resistance may hinder reform ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Isolated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isolated/) [Motivated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivated/) [Motivated Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivated-social-1500410/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Rational Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-wealth-1500409/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Should have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should-have/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-security/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wealth Maximizers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth-maximizers-1500411/) ## Related quotes > [If you take an economics or a political science course, you're taught that humans are supposed to be rational wealth accumulators, each acting as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-take-an-economics-or-a-political-science-course-you-re-taught/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ There was a hemispheric conference in Colombia. 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You have the power to increase his perceptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/bring-the-viewer-to-your-side-include-him-in-your-thought-he-is-not-a/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [“Take sex, for instance.' 'What do you want me to do with it?' 'Try to be serious for a moment. Take the sex life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/take-sex-for-instance-what-do-you-want-me-to-do-with-it-try-to-be/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) [Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/) ## 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. 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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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