If those in charge of our society—politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television—can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves.

About Howard Zinn

Howard Zinn (August 24, 1922 – January 27, 2010) was an American historian. He was chair of the history and social sciences department at Spelman College, and a political science professor at Boston University. Zinn wrote more than 20 books, including his best-selling and influential A People's History of the...

More quotations from Howard Zinn

Truth has a power of its own.… A poem can inspire a movement. A pamphlet can spark a revolution. Civil disobedience can arouse people and provoke us to think.

—Howard Zinn

truth power civil disobedience revolution

It is supposed to be part of the American tradition that if we want to step out of line, we step out of line. Democracy isn't falling in line behind the president. Democracy is for people to think independently, be skeptical of government, look around and try to find out what's going on. And if they find out that government is deceiving them, to speak out as loudly as they can.

—Howard Zinn

politics power democracy government protest America skepticism

It must surely be a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit that even a small number of those men and women in the hell of the prison system survive it and hold on to their humanity.

—Howard Zinn

humanity prison

More quotations tagged with “control”

Assuming either the Left Wing or the Right Wing gained control of the country, it would probably fly around in circles.

—Pat Paulsen

politics control extremes moderation

I used to feel like I was on the top of the world. Then one day, I noticed that it felt like I was no longer on the top of the world. I was just floating around inside of it. And then eventually, it felt like the world was on top of me.

—Colleen Hoover in Without Merit

success failure control the world

I like my players to be married and in debt. That's the way you motivate them.

—Ernie Banks

fear sports debt control

Here and there awareness is growing that man, far from being the overlord of all creation, is himself part of nature, subject to the same cosmic forces that control all other life. Man's future welfare and probably even his survival depend upon his learning to live in harmony, rather than in combat, with these forces.

—Rachel Carson

awareness force creation nature control

There are two things over which you have complete dominion, authority, and control—your mind and your mouth.

—Molefi Kete Asante

mind authority control

History

7 Nov 2022 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves.