--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must present a national persona of…" description: "\"We must present a national persona of being irrational and vindictive, because that's going to terrify people. And then, they'll back off. And this is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/noam-chomsky-42_bills_we-must-present-a-national-persona-of-be_215086.jpg" --- # We must present a national persona of being irrational and… ![“We must present a national persona of being irrational and vindictive, because that's going to terrify people. And then, they'll back off. And this is not [Donald] Trump, this is [Bill] Clinton. It's not [Richard] Nixon, you know. We have to be irrational and vindictive, because that's going to…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/noam-chomsky-42_bills_we-must-present-a-national-persona-of-be_215086.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/noam-chomsky-42_bills_we-must-present-a-national-persona-of-be_215086.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/noam-chomsky-42_bills_we-must-present-a-national-persona-of-be_215086.jpg) > “We must present a national persona of being irrational and vindictive, because that's going to terrify people. And then, they'll back off. And this is not \[Donald\] Trump, this is \[Bill\] Clinton. It's not \[Richard\] Nixon, you know. We have to be irrational and vindictive, because that's going to frighten people.” [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 speaker argues that portraying a nation as irrational and vindictive can intimidate opponents and deter aggression. **In simple terms:** Acting irrationally can scare others into compliance. Key Takeaway Use fear strategically, but beware of moral costs. Themes political strategy psychology power dynamics Mood cautious critical Type analytical political When to use this quote - campaign messaging - international negotiations - public relations - media framing Key Concepts irrationality vindictiveness deterrence Questions to Reflect On - Is fear a sustainable political tool? - What are the ethical limits of using intimidation? A Different Perspective Such tactics may backfire by eroding trust and legitimacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Irrational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrational/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Persona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persona/) ## Related quotes > [We have to be irrational and vindictive, because that's going to frighten people. And we have to maintain this for years. And then we'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/we-have-to-be-irrational-and-vindictive-because-that-s-going-to/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > ['Re-Mit' is going to terrify people. It's quite horrible. The Fall have had enough and we're coming for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/re-mit-is-going-to-terrify-people-it-s-quite-horrible-the-fall-have/) [Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/) > [This is real. This is the real mad man theory. We have to be irrational and vindictive, so people don't know what we're up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-real-this-is-the-real-mad-man-theory-we-have-to-be-irrational/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Without communism ... our state lacks a Wizard of Oz to terrify all the people all the time. So the state looks inward, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/without-communism-our-state-lacks-a-wizard-of-oz-to-terrify-all-the/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Death and genitals are things that frighten people, and when people are frightened, they develop means of concealment and aggression. It is common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/death-and-genitals-are-things-that-frighten-people-and-when-people/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“It is a cruel task, to frighten people in God’s name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-arden/it-is-a-cruel-task-to-frighten-people-in-god-s-name/) [Katherine Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-arden/) > [I think there are two ways in which people are controlled - first of all frighten people and secondly demoralize them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/i-think-there-are-two-ways-in-which-people-are-controlled-first-of/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [With three or more people there is something bold in the air: direct things get said which would frighten two people alone and conscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bowen/with-three-or-more-people-there-is-something-bold-in-the-air-direct/) [Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/) > [Part of the reason that the government's fear mongering is succeeding is because so many people are so ignorant, that it is easier for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/part-of-the-reason-that-the-government-s-fear-mongering-is-succeeding/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [That was the thing to remember about all monsters, They love to frighten people, but the minute you stare them down, they turn tail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-was-the-thing-to-remember-about-all-monsters-they-love-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never went into acting to be able to scare everybody. If I'd wanted to frighten people, I could have joined the C.I.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shannon/i-never-went-into-acting-to-be-able-to-scare-everybody-if-i-d-wanted/) [Michael Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shannon/) > [I believe you can frighten people without showing their heads caved-in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-pleasence/i-believe-you-can-frighten-people-without-showing-their-heads-caved-in/) [Donald Pleasence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-pleasence/) > [If Dr. Mahathir thinks that by ordering the police to act like gangsters he will frighten the people from supporting this reformation movement, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wan-azizah-wan-ismail/if-dr-mahathir-thinks-that-by-ordering-the-police-to-act-like/) Wan Azizah Wan Ismail > [The only way to get our society to truly change is to frighten people with the possibility of a catastrophe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-botkin/the-only-way-to-get-our-society-to-truly-change-is-to-frighten-people/) [Daniel Botkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-botkin/) > [There's definitely a lot of trash that comes with the prize of being famous. It's a nice gift, but there's a lot of wrapping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/there-s-definitely-a-lot-of-trash-that-comes-with-the-prize-of-being/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) ## 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 Bills quotes > [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Some of the folks on both sides might be sincere, but it does seem as if it is only the opposition that cares about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/some-of-the-folks-on-both-sides-might-be-sincere-but-it-does-seem-as/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [ \[Sport officials\] blocked their support of us. But those individuals \[ Muhammad Ali, the Jim Browns, the Bill Russells, Kareem Abdul Jabbar \] were… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/sport-officials-blocked-their-support-of-us-but-those-individuals/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [ I will not agree to have this bill \[to repeal DADT \] go forward, because our economy is in the tank. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-repeal-dadt-go-forward-because/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [This is not really currency that circulates. It's like the old joke about expensive vintage wine. Wine prices will go up and once in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/this-is-not-really-currency-that-circulates-it-s-like-the-old-joke/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [If Bill Gates left Microsoft we wouldn't allow Donald Trump to run it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/if-bill-gates-left-microsoft-we-wouldn-t-allow-donald-trump-to-run-it/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [Your goal should be to pay off your credit card bills in full at the end of each month and set aside money toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/your-goal-should-be-to-pay-off-your-credit-card-bills-in-full-at-the/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [He's fat and a clown, Bill, a fat clown for all to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eamon-dunphy/he-s-fat-and-a-clown-bill-a-fat-clown-for-all-to-see/) [Eamon Dunphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eamon-dunphy/) > [There's nothing nice about Steve Jobs and there's nothing evil about Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-peddle/there-s-nothing-nice-about-steve-jobs-and-there-s-nothing-evil-about/) Chuck Peddle > [At first I thought, if I were Superman, a perfect secret identity would be "Clark Kent, Dentist," because you could save money on tooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/at-first-i-thought-if-i-were-superman-a-perfect-secret-identity-would/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Whether it's people walking off 'The View' when Bill O'Reilly makes a statement about radical Islam or Juan Williams being fired for expressing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantor/whether-it-s-people-walking-off-the-view-when-bill-o-reilly-makes-a/) [Eric Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantor/) > [The one thing the police cannot protect us from is a politician like Bill de Blasio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-one-thing-the-police-cannot-protect-us-from-is-a-politician-like/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Bill Hicks - blowtorch, excavator, truthsayer, and brain specialist. He will correct your vision. Others will drive on the road he built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/bill-hicks-blowtorch-excavator-truthsayer-and-brain-specialist-he/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) Browse all 2,663 Bills quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must present a national persona of being irrational and vindictive, because that's going to terrify people. And then, they'll back off. And this is not [Donald] Trump, this is [Bill] Clinton. It's not [Richard] Nixon, you know. We have to be irrational and vindictive, because that's going to frighten people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Noam Chomsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/we-must-present-a-national-persona-of-being-irrational-and-vindictive/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bills" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/we-must-present-a-national-persona-of-being-irrational-and-vindictive/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/noam-chomsky-42_bills_we-must-present-a-national-persona-of-be_215086.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/noam-chomsky-42_bills_we-must-present-a-national-persona-of-be_215086.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/noam-chomsky-42_bills_we-must-present-a-national-persona-of-be_215086.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We must present a national persona of being irrational and vindictive, because that's going to terrify…” — Noam Chomsky", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Noam Chomsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We must present a national persona...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/we-must-present-a-national-persona-of-being-irrational-and-vindictive/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/we-must-present-a-national-persona-of-being-irrational-and-vindictive/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```