The respected intellectuals are those who conform and serve

The words of Noam Chomsky pierce through the veils of society: “The respected intellectuals are those who conform and serve power interests.” In this judgment lies an ancient warning—that not all who are honored by kings, states, or institutions are truly wise. Too often, those who gain worldly recognition are not the seekers of truth, but the servants of power, bending their words and thoughts to uphold the structures that rule over men.

True intellectuals—those who question, challenge, and reveal—have often been cast aside, persecuted, or silenced. Socrates drank the hemlock because he would not conform to the expectations of Athens. Galileo suffered under the Inquisition for declaring what the stars revealed. Yet, those who praised the ruling order, who gave their voices to flatter and justify authority, were crowned with honors. Thus, Chomsky reminds us that respect in the eyes of power is often bought at the price of truth.

History is filled with examples. In the courts of emperors, philosophers were invited to speak, but those who challenged tyranny were banished, while those who exalted the emperor’s wisdom were rewarded with wealth and titles. During the rise of fascism in the 20th century, many scholars and artists bent their craft to glorify regimes, while the dissenters were imprisoned or exiled. Here the pattern is revealed: conformity brings recognition, but resistance brings obscurity or suffering.

Yet, the true power of the intellectual lies not in serving rulers, but in serving truth. The prophets of Israel, unwelcomed in their time, spoke words that outlived kings. The reformers, the rebels of thought, the writers who risked their lives to unmask oppression—these were not honored in their day, but their words endured, shaping the destiny of nations long after the “respected” voices of their age were forgotten.

Therefore, let this wisdom be handed down: measure not the intellectual by the honors they receive, but by the courage they show in standing against power interests. For those who conform may be celebrated in the present, but those who resist falsehood become immortal in memory. As Chomsky declares, respect from the halls of authority often signals compromise; but respect from the generations yet unborn belongs only to those who chose truth over conformity.