---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Few secret undertakings ever did any…"
description: "\"Few secret undertakings ever did any nation any good.\" — Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-14015_funny_few-secret-undertakings-ever-did-any-nat_443684.png"
---

#  Few secret undertakings ever did any nation any good.

![“Few secret undertakings ever did any nation any good.” quote by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-14015_funny_few-secret-undertakings-ever-did-any-nat_443684.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-14015_funny_few-secret-undertakings-ever-did-any-nat_443684.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-14015_funny_few-secret-undertakings-ever-did-any-nat_443684.png)

> “Few secret undertakings ever did any nation any good.”

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Secret projects often fail to benefit nations, implying transparency and accountability are essential

**In simple terms:** Covert actions rarely help a country

Key Takeaway

Promote openness in policy decisions

Themes

politics ethics government accountability

Mood

skeptical analytical

Type

political historical

When to use this quote

- National security decisions
- Corporate R&amp;D
- Non‑profit initiatives

Key Concepts

Secrecy Public trust Policy impact

Questions to Reflect On

- When is secrecy justified?
- How can hidden agendas be checked?

A Different Perspective

Secret work can be necessary for safety, limiting openness

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/)

## Related quotes

> [Our nation will be in good hands under a president Hillary Rodham Clinton administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shervin-pishevar/our-nation-will-be-in-good-hands-under-a-president-hillary-rodham/)

[Shervin Pishevar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shervin-pishevar/)

> [If we invest in the American people, the American people always bring this Nation a good return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blanche-lincoln/if-we-invest-in-the-american-people-the-american-people-always-bring/)

[Blanche Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blanche-lincoln/)

> [The woman is the fiber of the nation. She is the producer of life. A nation is only as good as its women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/the-woman-is-the-fiber-of-the-nation-she-is-the-producer-of-life-a/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [We are a great nation because we are a good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-dole/we-are-a-great-nation-because-we-are-a-good-people/)

[Elizabeth Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-dole/)

> [Banks have done more injury to the religion, morality, tranquility, prosperity, and even wealth of the nation than they can have done or ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/banks-have-done-more-injury-to-the-religion-morality-tranquility/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [It was always yet the trick of our English nation, if they have a good thing, to make it too common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/it-was-always-yet-the-trick-of-our-english-nation-if-they-have-a-good/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I have repeatedly said, when asked, that if the stories about me helped inspired our troops and rally a nation, then perhaps there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lynch/i-have-repeatedly-said-when-asked-that-if-the-stories-about-me-helped/)

[Jessica Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lynch/)

> [ Ever since \[Ronald\] Reagan, they've been able to capture the message and an understanding - or persuade people of a certain understanding of what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/ever-since-ronald-reagan-they-ve-been-able-to-capture-the-message-and/)

[Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/)

> [“A free nation of good willed and hardworking people will be better developed than a nation of lazy people with good will but are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/topsy-gift/a-free-nation-of-good-willed-and-hardworking-people-will-be-better/)

[Topsy Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/topsy-gift/)

> [“Education is the spine of every nation! The better the education, the better the nation! The mediocre the education, the mediocre the nation! A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/education-is-the-spine-of-every-nation-the-better-the-education-the/)

[Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/)

> [If one were loyal to one's nation only because it was good and true ... one would not be loyal to any nation but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/if-one-were-loyal-to-one-s-nation-only-because-it-was-good-and-true/)

[Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/)

> [All great undertakings are achieved through mighty obstacles. Keep up the deepest mental poise. Take not even the slightest notice of what puerile creatures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/all-great-undertakings-are-achieved-through-mighty-obstacles-keep-up/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [ \[Decoding the human genome sequence\] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-the-most-significant/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

> [How difficult the task to quench the fire and the pride of private ambition, and to sacrifice ourselves and all our hopes and expectations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/how-difficult-the-task-to-quench-the-fire-and-the-pride-of-private/)

[Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/)

> [Surely to root politics out of art is a highly necessary undertaking: for the freedom of art, like that of science, depends entirely upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyndham-lewis/surely-to-root-politics-out-of-art-is-a-highly-necessary-undertaking/)

[Wyndham Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyndham-lewis/)

## More by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr

> [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [History is full of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/history-is-full-of-surprises/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [The genius of impeachment lay in the fact that it could punish the man without punishing the office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/the-genius-of-impeachment-lay-in-the-fact-that-it-could-punish-the/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [Every President reconstructs the Presidency to meet his own psychological needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/every-president-reconstructs-the-presidency-to-meet-his-own/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [The only President who clearly died of overwork was Polk, and that was a long time ago. Hoover, who worked intensely and humorlessly as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/the-only-president-who-clearly-died-of-overwork-was-polk-and-that-was/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [Righteousness is easy in retrospect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/righteousness-is-easy-in-retrospect/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [The first rule of democracy is to distrust all leaders who begin to believe their own publicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/the-first-rule-of-democracy-is-to-distrust-all-leaders-who-begin-to/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [In Defense of the World Order . . . U.S. soldiers would have to kill and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/in-defense-of-the-world-order-u-s-soldiers-would-have-to-kill-and-die/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [In view of the tide of religiosity engulfing a once secular republic it is refreshing to be reminded by Freethinkers that free thought and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/in-view-of-the-tide-of-religiosity-engulfing-a-once-secular-republic/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [There is no more dangerous thing for a democracy than a foreign policy based on presidential preventive war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/there-is-no-more-dangerous-thing-for-a-democracy-than-a-foreign/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [If we are to survive, we must have ideas, vision, and courage. These things are rarely produced by committees. Everything that matters in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/if-we-are-to-survive-we-must-have-ideas-vision-and-courage-these/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [The military struggle may frankly be regarded for what it actually was, namely a war for independence, an armed attempt to imposethe views of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/the-military-struggle-may-frankly-be-regarded-for-what-it-actually/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [Those who are convinced they have a monopoly on The Truth always feel that they are only saving the world when they slaughter the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/those-who-are-convinced-they-have-a-monopoly-on-the-truth-always-feel/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [There is far less to the Presidency, in terms of essential activity, than meets the eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/there-is-far-less-to-the-presidency-in-terms-of-essential-activity/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [All wars are popular for the first 30 days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/all-wars-are-popular-for-the-first-30-days/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

[Explore all 48 Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

## More Funny quotes

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/)

[Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/)

> [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Sometimes I look at my awesome twitter followers &amp; think to myself, What the hell would I do without them :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/sometimes-i-look-at-my-awesome-twitter-followers-think-to-myself-what/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/)

[Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/)

> [Congratulations to Facebook on going public with all my private information...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-to-facebook-on-going-public-with-all-my-private/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Why are things as they are and not otherwise?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/why-are-things-as-they-are-and-not-otherwise/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/)

[Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/)

> [Penis goes in , sperms cums out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/penis-goes-in-sperms-cums-out/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [If you were to send a werewolf to the moon, would he be a werewolf permanently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-schaal/if-you-were-to-send-a-werewolf-to-the-moon-would-he-be-a-werewolf/)

[Kristen Schaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-schaal/)

> [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/)

Pancho Barnes

> [If you can connect people, you can create the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-heiferman/if-you-can-connect-people-you-can-create-the-future/)

[Scott Heiferman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-heiferman/)

> [Don't think OF the market. Think AS the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fishman/don-t-think-of-the-market-think-as-the-market/)

Michael Fishman

[Browse all 39,858 Funny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Few secret undertakings ever did any nation any good.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/few-secret-undertakings-ever-did-any-nation-any-good/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Funny"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/few-secret-undertakings-ever-did-any-nation-any-good/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-14015_funny_few-secret-undertakings-ever-did-any-nat_443684.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-14015_funny_few-secret-undertakings-ever-did-any-nat_443684.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-14015_funny_few-secret-undertakings-ever-did-any-nat_443684.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Few secret undertakings ever did any nation any good.” — Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr",
                "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": "Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Few secret undertakings ever did any...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/few-secret-undertakings-ever-did-any-nation-any-good/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/few-secret-undertakings-ever-did-any-nation-any-good/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
