--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our intelligence communities spend a lot…" description: "\"Our intelligence communities spend a lot of time and effort gathering a lot of strands and a lot of data [on Russian hacking]. There are times where th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed5/barack-obama-17_cautious_our-intelligence-communities-spend-a-lot_2366677.jpg" --- # Our intelligence communities spend a lot of time and… ![“Our intelligence communities spend a lot of time and effort gathering a lot of strands and a lot of data [on Russian hacking]. There are times where they're very cautious and they say, "We think this is what happened, but we're not certain."” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed5/barack-obama-17_cautious_our-intelligence-communities-spend-a-lot_2366677.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed5/barack-obama-17_cautious_our-intelligence-communities-spend-a-lot_2366677.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed5/barack-obama-17_cautious_our-intelligence-communities-spend-a-lot_2366677.jpg) > “Our intelligence communities spend a lot of time and effort gathering a lot of strands and a lot of data \[on Russian hacking\]. There are times where they're very cautious and they say, "We think this is what happened, but we're not certain."” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## 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 gather extensive data on cyber threats but often lack certainty about specifics. **In simple terms:** Data collection is extensive yet uncertain. Key Takeaway Improve analytical certainty. Themes intelligence cybersecurity uncertainty Mood cautious analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - national security planning - public communication - legislative oversight - technology development Key Concepts data analysis risk assessment policy making Questions to Reflect On - How can agencies balance caution with action? - What safeguards prevent misinterpretation? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on incomplete data can mislead decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Hacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hacking/) [Intelligence community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-community/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time And Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-effort/) ## Related quotes > [Intelligence communities are very closed communities, but at the same time, you don't only learn how to fight terrorism. You need to learn about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mosab-hassan-yousef/intelligence-communities-are-very-closed-communities-but-at-the-same/) [Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mosab-hassan-yousef/) > [Reports the CIA has concluded that Russian hacking of Democratic emails was aimed at helping Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton, a step beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/reports-the-cia-has-concluded-that-russian-hacking-of-democratic/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Russia recently passed a law - I think a terrible law - which says you have to store all of the data from Russian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/russia-recently-passed-a-law-i-think-a-terrible-law-which-says-you/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The thing that has disturbed me most about the Russian hacking episode is - and the thing that surprised me most has not been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-thing-that-has-disturbed-me-most-about-the-russian-hacking/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Some of the best fan mail I get are from our men and women in the military and intelligence communities. They say, 'Boy you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/some-of-the-best-fan-mail-i-get-are-from-our-men-and-women-in-the/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“He’d known they would bring her in, sooner or later. People with a command of the languages in that part of the world were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/he-d-known-they-would-bring-her-in-sooner-or-later-people-with-a/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [Thinklogical's systems play a key role in the delivery and visualization of mission critical data used every day by military and intelligence communities worldwide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-g-stavridis/thinklogical-s-systems-play-a-key-role-in-the-delivery-and/) [James G. Stavridis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-g-stavridis/) > [Terrorists continue to exploit divisions between law enforcement and the intelligence communities that limit the sharing of vital counterterrorism information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sensenbrenner/terrorists-continue-to-exploit-divisions-between-law-enforcement-and/) [Jim Sensenbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sensenbrenner/) > [The United States Cyber Command was created partly in response to a Russian hacking attack that long predated the 2016 election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-sanger/the-united-states-cyber-command-was-created-partly-in-response-to-a/) [David E. Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-sanger/) > [A lot of people think Barack Obama should have responded to the Russian hacking of the U.S. elections weeks ago, months ago. So these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/a-lot-of-people-think-barack-obama-should-have-responded-to-the/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Russian hacking of the DNC is a problem, not a scandal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/russian-hacking-of-the-dnc-is-a-problem-not-a-scandal/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [ The administration \[of Barack Obama\] is going to have to figure out, you know, a tough response on the basis of this \[Russian\] hacking. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/the-administration-of-barack-obama-is-going-to-have-to-figure-out-you/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [ When I talked to \[Donald Trump\] about - our intelligence agencies, what I've said to him is - is that there are gonna be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/when-i-talked-to-donald-trump-about-our-intelligence-agencies-what-i/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The challenges posed by threats like terrorism, proliferation, and cyber attacks are not going away any time soon, and for our intelligence community to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-challenges-posed-by-threats-like-terrorism-proliferation-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think that Mr. Snowden raised some legitimate concerns. How he did it was something that did not follow the procedures and practices of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-that-mr-snowden-raised-some-legitimate-concerns-how-he-did-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Cautious quotes > [When I became successful, I put up a caution. I didn't think it was fair to have the shadow of that kind of success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-i-became-successful-i-put-up-a-caution-i-didn-t-think-it-was/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [When you jump across a canyon, cautious small steps and vacillation won't work. Sometimes you just have to go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/when-you-jump-across-a-canyon-cautious-small-steps-and-vacillation/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Fear and caution are two different things. Be cautious - be conscious - but do not be fearful. Fear only paralyzes, while consciousness mobilizes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/fear-and-caution-are-two-different-things-be-cautious-be-conscious/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the conscience of others, ever considering that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/while-we-are-contending-for-our-own-liberty-we-should-be-very/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear; The brave may not live forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [Americans want a strong military but one that is extremely cautious about getting involved in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/americans-want-a-strong-military-but-one-that-is-extremely-cautious/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [We old roosters must be cautious. Don't try to outwit your arteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-perelman/we-old-roosters-must-be-cautious-don-t-try-to-outwit-your-arteries/) [S. J. Perelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-perelman/) > [The more a race is governed by its passions, the less it has acquired the habit of cautious and reasoned argument, the more intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-more-a-race-is-governed-by-its-passions-the-less-it-has-acquired/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It's kind of an unwritten law, I think, being - carrying the name - George Bush. At times I ask myself, 'Am I going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/it-s-kind-of-an-unwritten-law-i-think-being-carrying-the-name-george/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [You ought to be extremely cautious, watchful, jealous of your liberty; for instead of securing your rights, you may lose them forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/you-ought-to-be-extremely-cautious-watchful-jealous-of-your-liberty/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [I'm not paranoid, but I am cautious. I don't drink tea with strangers, I don't fly Aeroflot and I avoid certain countries with close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/i-m-not-paranoid-but-i-am-cautious-i-don-t-drink-tea-with-strangers-i/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Candidates should be extremely cautious in displaying a sense of humor. If he or she tells a joke with a point, there is almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-germond/candidates-should-be-extremely-cautious-in-displaying-a-sense-of/) [Jack Germond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-germond/) [Browse all 501 Cautious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our intelligence communities spend a lot of time and effort gathering a lot of strands and a lot of data [on Russian hacking]. 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