--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is a large part of the academic…" description: "\"This is a large part of the academic profession: to make up complex, subtle arguments that are childishly ridiculous but are enveloped in sufficient pr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccd/noam-chomsky-42_academic_this-is-a-large-part-of-the-academic-pro_3028357.jpg" --- # This is a large part of the academic profession: to make… ![“This is a large part of the academic profession: to make up complex, subtle arguments that are childishly ridiculous but are enveloped in sufficient profundity that they take on a kind of plausibility.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccd/noam-chomsky-42_academic_this-is-a-large-part-of-the-academic-pro_3028357.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccd/noam-chomsky-42_academic_this-is-a-large-part-of-the-academic-pro_3028357.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccd/noam-chomsky-42_academic_this-is-a-large-part-of-the-academic-pro_3028357.jpg) > “This is a large part of the academic profession: to make up complex, subtle arguments that are childishly ridiculous but are enveloped in sufficient profundity that they take on a kind of plausibility.” [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. Criticizes academic jargon that masks triviality with false depth. **In simple terms:** Complex language can hide simple ideas. Key Takeaway Seek clarity over pretentiousness. Themes academia language critical thinking Mood critical analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - teaching - research writing - peer review - public discourse Key Concepts jargon pseudo‑intellectualism argumentation Questions to Reflect On - When have you encountered needless complexity? - How can you simplify without losing meaning? A Different Perspective Complexity may be necessary for nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Academic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academic/) [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Complexes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complexes/) [Plausibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plausibility/) [Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession/) [Profundity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profundity/) ## Related quotes > [Sexual harassment is complex, subtle, and highly subjective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathie-lee-gifford/sexual-harassment-is-complex-subtle-and-highly-subjective/) [Kathie Lee Gifford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathie-lee-gifford/) > [Women are complex and subtle. 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We may be relatively deficient,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gilovich/we-humans-seem-to-be-extremely-good-at-generating-ideas-theories-and/) [Thomas Gilovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gilovich/) > [Office tends to confer a dreadful plausibility on even the most negligible of those who hold it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lawson/office-tends-to-confer-a-dreadful-plausibility-on-even-the-most/) Mark Lawson > [“Objective truth is difficult to come by, and even if you have it, what you can pass on to the next person is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-abraham/objective-truth-is-difficult-to-come-by-and-even-if-you-have-it-what/) [Daniel Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-abraham/) ## 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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