---
title: "My feeling then, and now, is that IF there is to be an army, then the… — Noam Chomsky Quote #128 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "My feeling then, and now, is that IF there is to be an army, then the burden of service should be shared, not assigned to the disadvantaged by one or… — a quote by Noam Chomsky."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # My feeling then, and now, is that IF there is to be an army, then the burden of service should be shared, not assigned to the disadvantaged by one or another means, as in the case of all onerous tasks. That does not imply that those called upon to share the burden should necessarily agree. There are always cases where refusal is justified, and refusal to serve in Vietnam was, in my opinion, one such case. Same always. Garbage collection should be shared, not assigned to the disadvantaged, but if someone is ordered to dump toxic wastes in a schoolyard, he or she should refuse.

[Noam Chomsky](https://quotesby.net/Noam-Chomsky)\#128

[Ethics](https://quotesby.net/Noam-Chomsky/ethics/)[Morality](https://quotesby.net/Noam-Chomsky/morality/)[Military](https://quotesby.net/Noam-Chomsky/military/)[Conscience](https://quotesby.net/topics/conscience/)[Service](https://quotesby.net/topics/service/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?The author argues military service should be shared equally, but individuals should refuse when orders are immoral.In plain termsEveryone should share service duty, but say no to immoral orders.What can you take from it?Conscription should be fair, but moral duty to refuse exists.

### Where it applies

- military policy
- ethical decisions

### Putting it to work

- advocate shared service
- evaluate orders

### Questions to consider

- When should a soldier refuse an order?
- Who should serve in the military?

### Another view

Determining what counts as an immoral order can be subjective.

## More from Noam Chomsky

1. > I was very much involved in the resistance movement in the 1960's. In fact, I was just barely -- the only reason I missed a long jail sentence is because the T…

[Permalink to quote \#127](https://quotesby.net/Noam-Chomsky/127/ "Permalink to quote 127")
2. > ...roughly speaking, states are violent to the extent that they have the power to act in the interests of those with domestic power...

[Permalink to quote \#129](https://quotesby.net/Noam-Chomsky/129/ "Permalink to quote 129")
3. > Nobody doubts that the Russians committed aggression, that Saddam Hussein committed aggression. We attribute to them rational goals, maybe they wanted to contr…

[Permalink to quote \#126](https://quotesby.net/Noam-Chomsky/126/ "Permalink to quote 126")

## Related quotes

1. > Conscription if necessary, but not necessarily conscription.

[William Lyon Mackenzie King](https://quotesby.net/William-Lyon-Mackenzie-King)[William Lyon Mackenzie King quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/William-Lyon-Mackenzie-King/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")
2. > I think that Jesus would be disappointed in our ignoring the plight of those around us who are suffering and our focus on our own selfish short-term needs. I t…

[John Edwards](https://quotesby.net/John-Edwards)[John Edwards quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/John-Edwards/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")
3. > I am making this statement as an act of wilful defiance of military authority, because I believe that the War is being deliberately prolonged by those who have…

[Siegfried Sassoon](https://quotesby.net/Siegfried-Sassoon)[Siegfried Sassoon quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/Siegfried-Sassoon/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")

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