“There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.”
—Howard Zinn (1922-2010)
“How can you have a war on terrorism when war itself is terrorism?”
—Howard Zinn (1922-2010)
“I'm worried that students will take their obedient place in society and look to become successful cogs in the wheel - let the wheel spin them around as it wants without taking a look at what they're doing. I'm concerned that students not become passive acceptors of the official doctrine that's handed down to them from the White House, the media, textbooks, teachers and preachers.”
—Howard Zinn (1922-2010)
“Historically, the most terrible things - war, genocide, and slavery - have resulted not from disobedience, but from obedience.”
—Howard Zinn (1922-2010)
“Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it.”
—Howard Zinn (1922-2010)
“But I suppose the most revolutionary act one can engage in is... to tell the truth.”
—Howard Zinn (1922-2010)
“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.”
—Howard Zinn (1922-2010)
“There has always been, and there is now, a profound conflict of interest between the people and the government of the United States.”
—Howard Zinn (1922-2010)
"But remember, this power of the people on top depends on the obedience of the people below. When people stop obeying, they have no power."
—Howard Zinn (1922-2010)
"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders…and millions have been killed because of this obedience…Our problem is that people are obedient allover the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves… (and) the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem."
—Howard Zinn (1922-2010)