--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the Congress has made the…" description: "\"But the Congress has made the determination that certain kinds of information can be protected even though the American people may want to have access ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/alberto-gonzales-16649_access_but-the-congress-has-made-the-determinat_2470833.png" --- # But the Congress has made the determination that certain… ![“But the Congress has made the determination that certain kinds of information can be protected even though the American people may want to have access to information.” quote by Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/alberto-gonzales-16649_access_but-the-congress-has-made-the-determinat_2470833.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/alberto-gonzales-16649_access_but-the-congress-has-made-the-determinat_2470833.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/alberto-gonzales-16649_access_but-the-congress-has-made-the-determinat_2470833.png) > “But the Congress has made the determination that certain kinds of information can be protected even though the American people may want to have access to information.” [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that some information is classified for security, even if the public desires transparency. **In simple terms:** Some info is kept secret for security despite public demand. Key Takeaway Balance security with openness. Themes privacy government transparency Mood cautious critical Type political legal When to use this quote - journalism - whistleblowing - policy making - legal proceedings - public debate Key Concepts national security public right to know Questions to Reflect On - When should secrecy be overridden by public interest? - How can oversight ensure proper use of classification? A Different Perspective Classifying information can be abused to hide misconduct. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Access](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) [Access to information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access-to-information/) [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Determination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Access to information and freedom of access to it may seem like a fundamental right but there are many people who think, rightly or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/access-to-information-and-freedom-of-access-to-it-may-seem-like-a/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [Schools have never been about getting access to information. That's the job of libraries. Schools and universities have nobler missions as gentle gatekeepers. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/schools-have-never-been-about-getting-access-to-information-that-s/) Andrew Nikiforuk > [Not many years ago, it was access to information and movement that seemed our greatest luxury; nowadays it’s often freedom from information, the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/not-many-years-ago-it-was-access-to-information-and-movement-that/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Information is the most valuable commodity in the world today and this business is about giving people access to information that is relevant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murdoch/information-is-the-most-valuable-commodity-in-the-world-today-and/) [James Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murdoch/) > [Journalists don't need a get-out-of-jail-free card, ... Instead we should be given more access to information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-powell/journalists-don-t-need-a-get-out-of-jail-free-card-instead-we-should/) [Chris Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-powell/) > [There is a difference between having access to information and having the savvy it takes to interpret it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-stoll/there-is-a-difference-between-having-access-to-information-and-having/) [Clifford Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-stoll/) > [We must ensure that every American's vote is protected and that every American can be confident in the results of our elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/we-must-ensure-that-every-american-s-vote-is-protected-and-that-every/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [“Access to information can be empowering. When it overwhelms us, constantly bombarding us with data, infobesity eventually estranges us from ourselves and holds us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/access-to-information-can-be-empowering-when-it-overwhelms-us/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [“Stockpiling facts won’t get you anywhere. What will get you somewhere is being able to access the information you need, when you need it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/stockpiling-facts-won-t-get-you-anywhere-what-will-get-you-somewhere/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [Facebook's position with rival tech companies boils down to this: if you want access to all the information we've collected, strike a deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lyons/facebook-s-position-with-rival-tech-companies-boils-down-to-this-if/) [Daniel Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lyons/) > [Customers have access to information that gives them much more control over their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-easterbrook/customers-have-access-to-information-that-gives-them-much-more/) [Steve Easterbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-easterbrook/) > [We never, ever in the history of mankind have had access to so much information so quickly and so easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-never-ever-in-the-history-of-mankind-have-had-access-to-so-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We all have so much access to the information on the Internet and in books, but we don't necessarily get that information in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-oz/we-all-have-so-much-access-to-the-information-on-the-internet-and-in/) [Daphne Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-oz/) > [Living in truth cannot be reduced to having access to full information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-krastev/living-in-truth-cannot-be-reduced-to-having-access-to-full-information/) [Ivan Krastev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-krastev/) > [We now have access to so much information that we can find support for any prejudice or opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-now-have-access-to-so-much-information-that-we-can-find-support/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) ## More by Alberto Gonzales > [I feel very confident that that information should be sufficient for the members of the Senate to make an informed decision about John Roberts'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/i-feel-very-confident-that-that-information-should-be-sufficient-for/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [I want to be clear. No company is too big to be prosecuted. We have zero tolerance for corporate fraud, but we also recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/i-want-to-be-clear-no-company-is-too-big-to-be-prosecuted-we-have/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [In my judgement, this new paradigm renders obsolete Geneva's strict limitations on questioning of enemy prisoners and renders quaint some of its provisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/in-my-judgement-this-new-paradigm-renders-obsolete-geneva-s-strict/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [I respect very much the role of the media in our society; I think they can be very, very helpful. They serve as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/i-respect-very-much-the-role-of-the-media-in-our-society-i-think-they/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [We haven't seen a situation where you have the FBI director talk about an investigation side by side with the attorney general who confirms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/we-haven-t-seen-a-situation-where-you-have-the-fbi-director-talk/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [At the end of the day, you realize that this is important stuff, but it isn't as important as how my kids feel about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-realize-that-this-is-important-stuff-but-it/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [In this job, you're going to make decisions. You'll say things that some people are going to love them, some people are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/in-this-job-you-re-going-to-make-decisions-you-ll-say-things-that/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [We do have certain protocols in place with respect to doing the investigation by the FBI. And then prosecutors at the Department of Justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/we-do-have-certain-protocols-in-place-with-respect-to-doing-the/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [Jim, I'm not aware of any formal requests from the Senate Judiciary Committee for these kinds of documents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/jim-i-m-not-aware-of-any-formal-requests-from-the-senate-judiciary/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [I consider myself a casualty, one of the many casualties of the war on terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/i-consider-myself-a-casualty-one-of-the-many-casualties-of-the-war-on/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [Well, first of all, let me say that - let me remind your viewers that I am recused from this investigation, and what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/well-first-of-all-let-me-say-that-let-me-remind-your-viewers-that-i/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [We respect the role of the Senate. We respect the authority of the Senate to look at the qualifications of Judge Roberts, and at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/we-respect-the-role-of-the-senate-we-respect-the-authority-of-the/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [I will be the first to admit I am not perfect and I make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/i-will-be-the-first-to-admit-i-am-not-perfect-and-i-make-mistakes/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [This is a very highly charged investigation. People are very interested in this, and we've got a prosecutor, a very well respected prosecutor who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/this-is-a-very-highly-charged-investigation-people-are-very/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [The FBI director's probably spent a great deal of pressure to go either way - you know, to have said something, to not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/the-fbi-director-s-probably-spent-a-great-deal-of-pressure-to-go/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) [Explore all 39 Alberto Gonzales quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) ## More Access quotes > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [You can disseminate your art, and it's all such easy access now. The upside to it is that more people are creating than ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/you-can-disseminate-your-art-and-it-s-all-such-easy-access-now-the/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) > [It's the same with this idea of a literate public, and also of a democracy in which people have access to and really read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/it-s-the-same-with-this-idea-of-a-literate-public-and-also-of-a/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [I don't think it's always a sign of respect for persons (inside or outside of fiction) to pretend to be able to represent, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/i-don-t-think-it-s-always-a-sign-of-respect-for-persons-inside-or/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Leslie Stein's comics give readers privileged access to a complete and wholly original world of gently skewed wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/leslie-stein-s-comics-give-readers-privileged-access-to-a-complete/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [The best way to fight poverty is to empower people through access to quality education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/the-best-way-to-fight-poverty-is-to-empower-people-through-access-to/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Because the Internet's there, I have access to a lot of the legends, like Fela Kuti. I used to watch a lot of Fela…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-krule/because-the-internet-s-there-i-have-access-to-a-lot-of-the-legends/) [King Krule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-krule/) > [There needs to be some regime that is overseeing access to broadband to make sure we have openess; otherwise, there is a risk it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/there-needs-to-be-some-regime-that-is-overseeing-access-to-broadband/) [Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/) > [While it's wonderful that investors have access to all the data now available to them, it has become a full-time job to sift through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/while-it-s-wonderful-that-investors-have-access-to-all-the-data-now/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [It is truly vital for the United States to assure that it is not attacked with weapons of mass destruction; to prevent wars in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/it-is-truly-vital-for-the-united-states-to-assure-that-it-is-not/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Now that I'm more middle class, I have access to consumer goods. I do enjoy feminine frippery, feminine doo-da, stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-geok-lin-lim/now-that-i-m-more-middle-class-i-have-access-to-consumer-goods-i-do/) [Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-geok-lin-lim/) > [Schools have never been about getting access to information. That's the job of libraries. Schools and universities have nobler missions as gentle gatekeepers. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/schools-have-never-been-about-getting-access-to-information-that-s/) Andrew Nikiforuk > [To pray is to open the door unto Jesus and admit Him into your distress. Your helplessness is the very thing which opens wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/to-pray-is-to-open-the-door-unto-jesus-and-admit-him-into-your/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [Broadband Internet access shouldn't depend on who you are or where you're from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/broadband-internet-access-shouldn-t-depend-on-who-you-are-or-where/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) [Browse all 2,178 Access quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But the Congress has made the determination that certain kinds of information can be protected even though the American people may want to have access to information.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alberto Gonzales" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/but-the-congress-has-made-the-determination-that-certain-kinds-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Access" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/but-the-congress-has-made-the-determination-that-certain-kinds-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/alberto-gonzales-16649_access_but-the-congress-has-made-the-determinat_2470833.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/alberto-gonzales-16649_access_but-the-congress-has-made-the-determinat_2470833.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/alberto-gonzales-16649_access_but-the-congress-has-made-the-determinat_2470833.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But the Congress has made the determination that certain kinds of information can be protected even though…” — Alberto Gonzales", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alberto Gonzales", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But the Congress has made the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/but-the-congress-has-made-the-determination-that-certain-kinds-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/but-the-congress-has-made-the-determination-that-certain-kinds-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```