Knowledge Quote by Barry Eisler
““Knowledge has always flowed upwards, to bishops and kings, not down to serfs and slaves. The principle remains the same in the present era . . . governments dare to aspire, through their intelligence agencies, to a god-like knowledge of every one of us. —Julian Assange””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Fifth Estate, 2015
Powerful entities collect detailed data on individuals, aiming for near‑omniscient surveillance, raising privacy concerns.
In simple terms: Governments seek god‑like knowledge of citizens.
Key Takeaway
Protect personal data and demand transparency.
Themes
privacy
surveillance
power
Mood
cautionary
critical
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- social media use
- online banking
- public spaces
- government programs
Key Concepts
government intelligence
data collection
civil liberties
Questions to Reflect On
- What data are you willing to share?
- How can societies balance security and privacy?
A Different Perspective
Surveillance can be justified for security; may infringe rights.
![“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions of phantasmatical seeming philosophy." [William Petty]” quote by Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e5a/carl-zimmer-16331_knowledge_i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted_1770.jpg)
