--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The very idea that there should be a…" description: "\"The very idea that there should be a certain class of people who give orders by virtue of their ownership of wealth and another huge class who take on ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/noam-chomsky-42_access_the-very-idea-that-there-should-be-a-cer_1009120.jpg" --- # The very idea that there should be a certain class of… ![“The very idea that there should be a certain class of people who give orders by virtue of their ownership of wealth and another huge class who take on orders and follow them because of their lack of access to wealth and power, that's unacceptable. So, sure it should be abolished.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/noam-chomsky-42_access_the-very-idea-that-there-should-be-a-cer_1009120.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/noam-chomsky-42_access_the-very-idea-that-there-should-be-a-cer_1009120.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/117/noam-chomsky-42_access_the-very-idea-that-there-should-be-a-cer_1009120.jpg) > “The very idea that there should be a certain class of people who give orders by virtue of their ownership of wealth and another huge class who take on orders and follow them because of their lack of access to wealth and power, that's unacceptable. So, sure it should be abolished.” [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 quote argues that a hierarchy where wealth owners command and the poor obey is unjust and should be eliminated. **In simple terms:** Wealth creates unfair power; it must be ended. Key Takeaway Abolish wealth‑based authority. Themes inequality power class justice Mood critical determined Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political activism - labor organizing - policy reform - education campaigns Key Concepts social hierarchy economic exploitation authoritarianism Questions to Reflect On - How can societies restructure power without causing instability? - What alternatives to wealth‑based authority exist? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑rooted structures is complex and may meet resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abolished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abolished/) [Access](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Class Orders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-orders-2181057/) [Class People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-people/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Huge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Ownership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ownership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wealth Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth-power-299477/) ## Related quotes > [The term 'globalisation' is conventionally used to refer to the specific form of investor-rights integration designed by wealth and power, for their own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-term-globalisation-is-conventionally-used-to-refer-to-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Palestinians have no wealth or power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/palestinians-have-no-wealth-or-power/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Now, the Libertarian Party, is a \*capitalist\* party. It's in favor of what \*I\* would regard a \*particular form\* of authoritarian control. Namely, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/now-the-libertarian-party-is-a-capitalist-party-it-s-in-favor-of-what/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ Stock ownership in the US is very highly concentrated. \[Shareholder actions are\] something, but it's like the old Communist Party in the USSR, it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/stock-ownership-in-the-us-is-very-highly-concentrated-shareholder/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Contemporary technology could be used to eliminate ownership and management of corporations. It could be used to provide - lets say Apple computers. 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Clason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-clason/) > [Even if the wealth and power be well distributed throughout a community, its members will not be happy unless they are inwardly so, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/even-if-the-wealth-and-power-be-well-distributed-throughout-a/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [I think the big problem is you have a vicious cycle of wealth and power in America that's just gotten completely out of control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/i-think-the-big-problem-is-you-have-a-vicious-cycle-of-wealth-and/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [I acquired more wealth, power, and prestige than most. But you can acquire all you want and still feel empty. What power wouldn't I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-atwater/i-acquired-more-wealth-power-and-prestige-than-most-but-you-can/) [Lee Atwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-atwater/) > [Records, radio, television, movies, magazines-all are monopolized by the money managers who are guided by one ethic, the words wealth and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/records-radio-television-movies-magazines-all-are-monopolized-by-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) ## 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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