There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.
Noam ChomskyRead
Violence can succeed, as Americans know well from the conquest of the national territory. But at terrible cost. It can also provoke violence in response, and often does.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Violence can achieve immediate results, but it always carries severe consequences and can lead to retaliatory violence.
In this quote, Noam Chomsky reflects on the historical context of violence, particularly in relation to American expansion. He suggests that while violence may achieve short-term goals, such as territorial conquest, it ultimately incurs a heavy toll, not just in human cost but also in creating cycles of violence that can lead to further conflict and retaliation.
Themes
ViolenceConquestConsequencesRetaliationHistory
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a debate about the impact of war on society.
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