--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no plausible theory under which…" description: "\"There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.\" — Noam Chomsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/noam-chomsky-42_defense_there-is-no-plausible-theory-under-which_67092.jpg" --- # There is no plausible theory under which the record of the… ![“There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/noam-chomsky-42_defense_there-is-no-plausible-theory-under-which_67092.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/noam-chomsky-42_defense_there-is-no-plausible-theory-under-which_67092.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/noam-chomsky-42_defense_there-is-no-plausible-theory-under-which_67092.jpg) > “There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.” [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 Pentagon Papers expose governmental deception, showing no legitimate defense justification for the actions documented. **In simple terms:** Exposes governmental deception. Key Takeaway Government secrecy lacks defense justification. Themes politics history transparency ethics media Mood critical skeptical Type political historical When to use this quote - academic research - journalistic investigation - policy analysis Key Concepts government accountability press freedom Practical Applications - teaching media literacy - informing public debate Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can ensure governmental transparency? - How does this shape public trust? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Interpreted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interpreted/) [National](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national/) [National defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-defense/) [Papers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/papers/) [Pentagon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pentagon/) [Pentagon Papers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pentagon-papers-892033/) [Plausible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plausible/) [Record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record/) [Record Pentagon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record-pentagon-892034/) [Relating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relating/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Theory Record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory-record-892035/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) ## Related quotes > [Say the Pentagon Papers, - that material went much deeper. It went into internal government planning back for twenty - five years. Those are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/say-the-pentagon-papers-that-material-went-much-deeper-it-went-into/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Public opinion in Egypt is very antagonistic to the way the dictatorship, Mubarak dictatorship, interpreted relations with Israel. Very antagonistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/public-opinion-in-egypt-is-very-antagonistic-to-the-way-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ “Had I been given The \[Pentagon\] Papers themselves that early, I would probably have become a prisoner of them—as it was, I had a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-halberstam/had-i-been-given-the-pentagon-papers-themselves-that-early-i-would/) [David Halberstam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-halberstam/) > [I would say that the Pentagon Papers case of 1971 - in which the government tried to block the The New York Times and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-abrams/i-would-say-that-the-pentagon-papers-case-of-1971-in-which-the-2/) [Floyd Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-abrams/) > [I would say that the Pentagon Papers case of 1971 - in which the government tried to block the 'The New York Times' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-abrams/i-would-say-that-the-pentagon-papers-case-of-1971-in-which-the/) [Floyd Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-abrams/) > [“One of its analysts was Daniel Ellsberg, who at the time was back in the States compiling the report that—after he leaked it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bowden/one-of-its-analysts-was-daniel-ellsberg-who-at-the-time-was-back-in/) [Mark Bowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bowden/) > [In the Pentagon Papers case, the government asserted in the Supreme Court that the publication of the material was a threat to national security.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/in-the-pentagon-papers-case-the-government-asserted-in-the-supreme/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [In my estimation, there has not been in American history a more important leak than Edward Snowden's release of NSA material, and that definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ellsberg/in-my-estimation-there-has-not-been-in-american-history-a-more/) [Daniel Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ellsberg/) > [The Pentagon Papers case stands today as a barrier to silence by official edict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lewis/the-pentagon-papers-case-stands-today-as-a-barrier-to-silence-by/) [Anthony Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lewis/) > [EVERY attack now made on WikiLeaks and Julian Assange was made against me and the release of the Pentagon Papers at the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ellsberg/every-attack-now-made-on-wikileaks-and-julian-assange-was-made/) [Daniel Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ellsberg/) > [The days of the Pentagon Papers debates seem long past, when a sudden transparency yielded insight into fights over war and peace and freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/the-days-of-the-pentagon-papers-debates-seem-long-past-when-a-sudden/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [There should be at least one leak like the Pentagon Papers every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ellsberg/there-should-be-at-least-one-leak-like-the-pentagon-papers-every-year/) [Daniel Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ellsberg/) > [Contemporary paganism gives me a subjective lens through which the world in which I live can be interpreted on an aesthetic and an ethical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-williams/contemporary-paganism-gives-me-a-subjective-lens-through-which-the/) [Liz Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-williams/) > [A screenplay is really an instruction manual, and it can be interpreted in any number of ways. The casting, the choice of location, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/a-screenplay-is-really-an-instruction-manual-and-it-can-be/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [The Icesave matter is complex and it is understandable that the issue has been oversimplified by many. Unfortunately some of the basic facts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-siguroardottir/the-icesave-matter-is-complex-and-it-is-understandable-that-the-issue/) [Johanna Siguroardottir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-siguroardottir/) ## 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 Defense quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [My last defense / Is the present tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendolyn-brooks/my-last-defense-is-the-present-tense/) [Gwendolyn Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendolyn-brooks/) > [Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/football-is-not-just-all-about-throwing-the-ball-you-got-to-run-the/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witness-for-the-defense-albus-percival-wulfric-brian-dumbledore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You say I have a bad attitude. But have you ever stopped to check yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-marie/you-say-i-have-a-bad-attitude-but-have-you-ever-stopped-to-check-yours/) [Tasha Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-marie/) > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. 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