--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Allan Dulles said it best: \"Any…" description: "\"“Allan Dulles said it best: \"Any intelligence service worth its salt can make the other fellow's currency.\" In other words, every nation needs to have ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/antonio-j-mendez-57762_cybersecurity_allan-dulles-said-it-best-any-intelligen_1575001.jpg" --- # Allan Dulles said it best: "Any intelligence service worth… ![“Allan Dulles said it best: "Any intelligence service worth its salt can make the other fellow's currency." In other words, every nation needs to have its own airtight security measures, while at the same time be actively working in secret to reverse engineer those of the enemy faster than they can…” quote by Antonio J. Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/antonio-j-mendez-57762_cybersecurity_allan-dulles-said-it-best-any-intelligen_1575001.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/antonio-j-mendez-57762_cybersecurity_allan-dulles-said-it-best-any-intelligen_1575001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a4/antonio-j-mendez-57762_cybersecurity_allan-dulles-said-it-best-any-intelligen_1575001.jpg) > ““Allan Dulles said it best: "Any intelligence service worth its salt can make the other fellow's currency." In other words, every nation needs to have its own airtight security measures, while at the same time be actively working in secret to reverse engineer those of the enemy faster than they can invent them.”” [Antonio J. Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-j-mendez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intelligence agencies must protect themselves while also covertly out‑innovating adversaries. **In simple terms:** Guard your secrets and out‑smart rivals. Key Takeaway Invest in both defense and offensive innovation. Themes security espionage competition Mood analytical serious Type strategic political When to use this quote - national defense - corporate cyber‑security - R&D races Key Concepts strategic planning technology geopolitics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance secrecy and transparency? - What risks do you accept? A Different Perspective Ethical concerns arise from constant espionage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Dulles Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dulles-said-5282019/) [Intelligence Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-service-1904845/) [Nation Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-needs-851971/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Security measures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security-measures/) ## Related quotes > [“Former Secretary of State John Foster Dulles said, “The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-slattery/former-secretary-of-state-john-foster-dulles-said-the-measure-of/) [Julianna Slattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-slattery/) > [SIS, the Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6, also has no executive powers and operates abroad on CIA lines, but with a tiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/sis-the-secret-intelligence-service-also-known-as-mi6-also-has-no/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [On Foreign Secretary Robin Cook: If a man cannot keep a measly affair secret, what is he doing in charge of the Intelligence Service?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-forsyth/on-foreign-secretary-robin-cook-if-a-man-cannot-keep-a-measly-affair/) [Frederick Forsyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-forsyth/) > [Everybody has a hacking capability. And probably every intelligence service is hacking in the territory of other countries. But who exactly does what? That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kissinger/everybody-has-a-hacking-capability-and-probably-every-intelligence/) [Henry Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kissinger/) > [Regarding Wikileaks, I have profound ambivalent feelings about it. I am a firm believer in a strong intelligence service. There's a need for classified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/regarding-wikileaks-i-have-profound-ambivalent-feelings-about-it-i-am/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [The aim of a foreign intelligence service is to find and convince individuals to help them achieve intelligence objectives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/the-aim-of-a-foreign-intelligence-service-is-to-find-and-convince/) [Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/) > [The Germans certainly - the intelligence service believed that there were WMD. It turns out that we were all wrong, probably in my judgment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kay/the-germans-certainly-the-intelligence-service-believed-that-there/) [David Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kay/) > [There's no such thing as going to a soapbox and saying, 'The government's corrupt,' and not having the intelligence service see your face. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/there-s-no-such-thing-as-going-to-a-soapbox-and-saying-the-government/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Intelligence in the service of poor instinct is really dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/intelligence-in-the-service-of-poor-instinct-is-really-dangerous/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [An intelligence service is, in fact, a stupidity service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white-3/an-intelligence-service-is-in-fact-a-stupidity-service/) [E B White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white-3/) > [An intelligence service is the ideal vehicle for a conspiracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-dulles/an-intelligence-service-is-the-ideal-vehicle-for-a-conspiracy/) [Allen Dulles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-dulles/) > [The Secret Intelligence Service I knew occupied dusky suites of little rooms opposite St James's Park Tube station in London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-secret-intelligence-service-i-knew-occupied-dusky-suites-of/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [I think Israel's security measures are pretty strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-beruff/i-think-israel-s-security-measures-are-pretty-strong/) [Carlos Beruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-beruff/) > [Treason is when legislators vote against homeland security measures because it goes against the wishes of their political or financial backers. Treason is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/treason-is-when-legislators-vote-against-homeland-security-measures/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Companies spend millions of dollars on firewalls and secure access devices, and it's money wasted because none of these measures address the weakest link…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mitnick/companies-spend-millions-of-dollars-on-firewalls-and-secure-access/) [Kevin Mitnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mitnick/) ## More by Antonio J. Mendez > [“Exfiltrations are like abortions," I said. "You don't need one unless something's gone wrong. If you need one, don't try to do it yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-j-mendez/exfiltrations-are-like-abortions-i-said-you-don-t-need-one-unless/) [Antonio J. Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-j-mendez/) > [“The trick is that you have to believe the lie and believe it so much that the lie becomes the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-j-mendez/the-trick-is-that-you-have-to-believe-the-lie-and-believe-it-so-much/) [Antonio J. Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-j-mendez/) > [“Every intelligence agency is ultimately judged on its ability to successfully rescue people and bring them out of harm's way, which is essentially what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-j-mendez/every-intelligence-agency-is-ultimately-judged-on-its-ability-to/) [Antonio J. Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-j-mendez/) > [“Intelligence is only as good as the consumer's ability to believe and utilize it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-j-mendez/intelligence-is-only-as-good-as-the-consumer-s-ability-to-believe-and/) [Antonio J. Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-j-mendez/) > [“One of the main lessons I had learned is that exfiltrations are almost ninety percent logistics - just making sure everything is lined up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-j-mendez/one-of-the-main-lessons-i-had-learned-is-that-exfiltrations-are/) [Antonio J. Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-j-mendez/) [Explore all 6 Antonio J. Mendez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-j-mendez/) ## More Cybersecurity quotes > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [“Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority-- where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-select-man-strives-instinctively-for-a-citadel-and-a-privacy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Our engagement through international economics, trade, these trade agreements, is vital and is linked to our national security. This is a lesson we learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/our-engagement-through-international-economics-trade-these-trade/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you...it means that you do not treat your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/responsibility-to-yourself-means-refusing-to-let-others-do-your/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [I'm OK with guns in schools, if it's a security, trained security personnel. But every teacher having a gun, I don't know if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/i-m-ok-with-guns-in-schools-if-it-s-a-security-trained-security/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [I'm also the chairman of the board of Symantec, which is the world's largest cybersecurity - software cybersecurity company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schulman/i-m-also-the-chairman-of-the-board-of-symantec-which-is-the-world-s/) [Dan Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schulman/) > [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [Fraud will always exist. Enforcement of anti-fraud laws is a useful deterrent, but in the end there's no substitute for investor vigilance. Government regulations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/fraud-will-always-exist-enforcement-of-anti-fraud-laws-is-a-useful/) [John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/) > [As president, things that you're supposed to focus on, things like the economy, like energy policy, which is completely tied to national security, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-burgum/as-president-things-that-you-re-supposed-to-focus-on-things-like-the/) [Doug Burgum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-burgum/) > [The U.S. cannot impose freedom, security, and unity in Iraq by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/the-u-s-cannot-impose-freedom-security-and-unity-in-iraq-by-force/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [Men who have lived significant lives are men who never waited: not for money, security, ease, or women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-deida/men-who-have-lived-significant-lives-are-men-who-never-waited-not-for/) [David Deida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-deida/) > [I've always said that I benefit, as an actor, from not having the illusion of security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sparks/i-ve-always-said-that-i-benefit-as-an-actor-from-not-having-the/) [Hal Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sparks/) > [I don't want to have anything to do with that: just the fame without personal respect for your privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-don-t-want-to-have-anything-to-do-with-that-just-the-fame-without/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [The purpose of the military is to close with and destroy the enemy on behalf of our national security priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-wilcox/the-purpose-of-the-military-is-to-close-with-and-destroy-the-enemy-on/) [Todd Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-wilcox/) [Browse all 6,947 Cybersecurity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Allan Dulles said it best: \"Any intelligence service worth its salt can make the other fellow's currency.\" In other words, every nation needs to have its own airtight security measures, while at the same time be actively working in secret to reverse engineer those of the enemy faster than they can invent them.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonio J. 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