Attack Quote by Bruce Schneier
“Despite fearful rhetoric to the contrary, terrorism is not a transcendent threat. A terrorist attack cannot possibly destroy our country's way of life; it's only our reaction to that attack that can do that kind of damage.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Data and Goliath, 2015
It claims terrorism itself isn’t the ultimate danger; the societal reaction to attacks can erode a nation’s core values.
In simple terms: The real threat is how we respond, not the attack itself.
Key Takeaway
Manage reactions to preserve societal resilience.
Themes
security
societal resilience
psychology
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
policy
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- public communication
- community building
- media analysis
Key Concepts
risk perception
collective behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies respond without compromising values?
- What measures protect both security and liberty?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on reaction may ignore the need for proactive prevention.
![“The real targets of terrorism are the rest of us: the billions of us who are not killed but are terrorized because of the killing. The real point of terrorism is not the act itself, but our reaction to the act. And we're doing exactly what the terrorists want [...] Our politicians help the…” quote by Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/786/bruce-schneier-8231_billions_the-real-targets-of-terrorism-are-the-re_114892.jpg)
![“I mean, it's not just the rappers, you know what i'm saying? People want to attack anybody that's a large figure, you know what I'm saying? They did it to [Michael] Jordan, they did it to [Mike] Tyson, they did it to Bill Cosby, you know what I'm saying? They're gonna' attack you if you on top.” quote by The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac8/the-notorious-b-i-g-8034_attack_i-mean-it-s-not-just-the-rappers-you-kno_27728.jpg)
