--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...the qualifications that I have to…" description: "\"“...the qualifications that I have to speak on world affairs are exactly the same ones Henry Kissinger has, and Walt Rostow has, or anybody in the Poli..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/noam-chomsky-42_henry-kissinger_the-qualifications-that-i-have-to-speak_2722805.jpg" --- # ...the qualifications that I have to speak on world… ![“...the qualifications that I have to speak on world affairs are exactly the same ones Henry Kissinger has, and Walt Rostow has, or anybody in the Political Science Department, professional historians—none, none that you don't have. The only difference is, I don't pretend to have qualifications…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/noam-chomsky-42_henry-kissinger_the-qualifications-that-i-have-to-speak_2722805.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/noam-chomsky-42_henry-kissinger_the-qualifications-that-i-have-to-speak_2722805.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45f/noam-chomsky-42_henry-kissinger_the-qualifications-that-i-have-to-speak_2722805.jpg) > ““...the qualifications that I have to speak on world affairs are exactly the same ones Henry Kissinger has, and Walt Rostow has, or anybody in the Political Science Department, professional historians—none, none that you don't have. The only difference is, I don't pretend to have qualifications, nor do I pretend that qualifications are needed. I mean, if somebody were to ask me to give a talk on quantum physics, I'd refuse—because I don't understand enough. But world affairs are trivial: there's nothing in the social sciences or history or whatever that is beyond the intellectual capacities of an ordinary fifteen-year-old. You have to do a little work, you have to do some reading, you have to be able to think but there's nothing deep—if there are any theories around that require some special kind of training to understand, then they've been kept a carefully guarded secret.”” [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 understanding world affairs requires no special expertise beyond basic reading and reasoning, unlike complex scientific fields. **In simple terms:** World affairs are simple for anyone willing to read and think. Key Takeaway Read widely and think critically. Themes education politics expertise Mood skeptical confident Type critical analytical When to use this quote - public discourse - self‑education - policy analysis Key Concepts intellectual humility accessibility Questions to Reflect On - Do you think all political topics are equally accessible? - How does expertise shape public debate? A Different Perspective Specialized knowledge may still be required for nuanced issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Henry kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/henry-kissinger/) [Intellectual Capacities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual-capacities-2723761/) [Kissinger Walt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissinger-walt-2895991/) [Political science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-science/) [Qualifications](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qualifications/) [Qualifications Pretend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qualifications-pretend-2895992/) [Qualifications Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qualifications-speak-2895990/) [Quantum physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quantum-physics/) [World affairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-affairs/) ## Related quotes > [The arts, like language, emerged spontaneously and universally in similar forms across cultures, employing imaginative and intellectual capacities that had clear survival value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-dutton/the-arts-like-language-emerged-spontaneously-and-universally-in/) [Denis Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-dutton/) > [The greatest intellectual capacities are only found in connection with a vehement and passionate will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/the-greatest-intellectual-capacities-are-only-found-in-connection/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [What I've called "the Mafia doctrine" in many publications: when the Godfather issues an edict, others must obey, or else. It's too dangerous to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/what-i-ve-called-the-mafia-doctrine-in-many-publications-when-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [To achieve respectability, to be admitted to the debate, they must accept without question or inquiry the fundamental doctrine that the state is benevolent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/to-achieve-respectability-to-be-admitted-to-the-debate-they-must/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There’s no more morality in world affairs, fundamentally, than there was at the time of Genghis Khan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-no-more-morality-in-world-affairs-fundamentally-than-there/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I don't think that experience is a very useful or convincing attribute for a sensible foreign policy. Henry Kissinger had a lot of experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-think-that-experience-is-a-very-useful-or-convincing/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Thou shalt not answer questionnaires Or quizzes upon world affairs, Nor with compliance Take any test. Thou shalt not sit with statisticians nor commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/thou-shalt-not-answer-questionnaires-or-quizzes-upon-world-affairs/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [We must be prepared to see an Association of Nations in conference growing into an organic system of world controls for world affairs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/we-must-be-prepared-to-see-an-association-of-nations-in-conference/) [H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [“There is more going on, then, than the clumsy interventions of the west in Iraq and Afghanistan and the use of pressure in Ukraine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/there-is-more-going-on-then-than-the-clumsy-interventions-of-the-west/) [Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/) > [The rising power of the United States in world affairs requires, not a more compliant press, but a relentless barrage of facts and criticism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/the-rising-power-of-the-united-states-in-world-affairs-requires-not-a/) [James Reston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/) > [Only together do Europe and the U.S. stand a chance of keeping liberal democracy as the central doctrine for organizing world affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-ponta/only-together-do-europe-and-the-u-s-stand-a-chance-of-keeping-liberal/) [Victor Ponta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-ponta/) > [It is not love, or morality, or international law that determines the outcome of world affairs, but the changing distribution of organized force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-woodruff/it-is-not-love-or-morality-or-international-law-that-determines-the/) [William Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-woodruff/) > [A new chapter in the history of international politics has begun, one in which the pursuit and control of energy resources would be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-klare/a-new-chapter-in-the-history-of-international-politics-has-begun-one/) [Michael Klare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-klare/) > [The absolute necessity to create a proper Earth government' - we should inscribe this as the priority item on the agenda of world affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-muller/the-absolute-necessity-to-create-a-proper-earth-government-we-should/) [Robert Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-muller/) > [“The rich eat life, the poor eat death; so what is the problem they ask?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/the-rich-eat-life-the-poor-eat-death-so-what-is-the-problem-they-ask/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) ## 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 Henry kissinger quotes > [Henry Kissinger may have wished I had presented him as a combination of Charles DeGaulle and Disraeli, but I didn't…out of respect for DeGaulle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/henry-kissinger-may-have-wished-i-had-presented-him-as-a-combination/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [“Obama was the fourth president I had worked for who said outright that he wanted to eliminate all nuclear weapons (Carter, Reagan, and Bush…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/obama-was-the-fourth-president-i-had-worked-for-who-said-outright/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [Love is when you realize that he's as sexy as Woody Allen, as smart as Jimmy Connors, as funny as Ralph Nader, as athletic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-viorst/love-is-when-you-realize-that-he-s-as-sexy-as-woody-allen-as-smart-as/) [Judith Viorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-viorst/) > [“So many of the professional foreign policy establishment, and so many of their hangers-on among the lumpen academics and journalists, had become worried by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/so-many-of-the-professional-foreign-policy-establishment-and-so-many/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ There's a great quote from Henry Kissinger, which I became aware of from reading \[Joseph\] Heller's Good As Gold. He said: 'Every great achievement… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hodgson/there-s-a-great-quote-from-henry-kissinger-which-i-became-aware-of/) [Roy Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hodgson/) > [“History is the memory of states,' wrote Henry Kissinger in his first book, A World Restored , in which he proceeded to tell the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/history-is-the-memory-of-states-wrote-henry-kissinger-in-his-first/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“To permit this gross new revelation to fade, or be forgiven, would be to devalue our most essential standard of what constitutes the unpardonable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-permit-this-gross-new-revelation-to-fade-or-be-forgiven-would-be/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Henry Kissinger How I'm missing yer You're the Doctor of my dreams With your crinkly hair and your glassy stare And your Machiavellian schemes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monty-python/henry-kissinger-how-i-m-missing-yer-you-re-the-doctor-of-my-dreams/) [Monty Python](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monty-python/) > [I don't really remember the day when I stood behind my camera with Henry Kissinger on the other side. I am sure he doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/i-don-t-really-remember-the-day-when-i-stood-behind-my-camera-with/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [Henry Kissinger is possessed of a truly superior intelligence, in addition to which he has two qualities which, unfortunately, many great men lack: he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/henry-kissinger-is-possessed-of-a-truly-superior-intelligence-in/) [Mohammed Reza Pahlavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/) > [“At a lunchtime reception for the diplomatic corps in Washington, given the day before the inauguration of Barack Obama as president, I was approached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/at-a-lunchtime-reception-for-the-diplomatic-corps-in-washington-given/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Henry Kissinger is the greatest living war criminal in the world today, with the blood of millions of people in Vietnam and Cambodia and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-galloway/henry-kissinger-is-the-greatest-living-war-criminal-in-the-world/) [George Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-galloway/) > [Various people have explained why Henry Kissinger is a bad choice to run an investigation into what went wrong on Sept. 11. He's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/various-people-have-explained-why-henry-kissinger-is-a-bad-choice-to/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [“The burden therefore rests with the American legal community and with the American human-rights lobbies and non-governmental organizations. They can either persist in averting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-burden-therefore-rests-with-the-american-legal-community-and-with/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation. Henry Kissinger Practice being at home with yourself, as you step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-wieder/ninety-percent-of-the-politicians-give-the-other-ten-percent-a-bad/) [Marcia Wieder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-wieder/) [Browse all 54 Henry kissinger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/henry-kissinger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...the qualifications that I have to speak on world affairs are exactly the same ones Henry Kissinger has, and Walt Rostow has, or anybody in the Political Science Department, professional historians—none, none that you don't have. The only difference is, I don't pretend to have qualifications, nor do I pretend that qualifications are needed. I mean, if somebody were to ask me to give a talk on quantum physics, I'd refuse—because I don't understand enough. But world affairs are trivial: there's nothing in the social sciences or history or whatever that is beyond the intellectual capacities of an ordinary fifteen-year-old. 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