--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are always looking for a small number…" description: "\"We are always looking for a small number of very evil needles in a very large haystack, which is the city of London.\" — Charles Clarke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/charles-clarke-38723_cities_we-are-always-looking-for-a-small-number_2326362.jpg" --- # We are always looking for a small number of very evil… ![“We are always looking for a small number of very evil needles in a very large haystack, which is the city of London.” quote by Charles Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/charles-clarke-38723_cities_we-are-always-looking-for-a-small-number_2326362.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/charles-clarke-38723_cities_we-are-always-looking-for-a-small-number_2326362.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/charles-clarke-38723_cities_we-are-always-looking-for-a-small-number_2326362.jpg) > “We are always looking for a small number of very evil needles in a very large haystack, which is the city of London.” [Charles Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-clarke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finding a few dangerous individuals in a massive population is extremely challenging for law enforcement. **In simple terms:** Finding few threats among many people is hard. Key Takeaway Focus resources on targeted intelligence. Themes security law enforcement urban safety Mood concerned analytical Type policy commentary When to use this quote - counterterrorism - crime prevention - public safety - resource allocation Key Concepts risk assessment surveillance intelligence gathering Questions to Reflect On - How can technology improve threat detection? - What balance between privacy and security is acceptable? A Different Perspective Limited resources make exhaustive searches impossible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [City of london](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city-of-london/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/london/) [Needle in a haystack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needle-in-a-haystack/) [Small numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-numbers/) ## Related quotes > [The fact is, we're looking for a very small number of very evil needles in a very large haystack, which is the city of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/the-fact-is-we-re-looking-for-a-very-small-number-of-very-evil/) [Charles Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-clarke/) > [I don't believe a Brexit will hurt the City of London as one of the largest financial centers in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanis-varoufakis/i-don-t-believe-a-brexit-will-hurt-the-city-of-london-as-one-of-the/) [Yanis Varoufakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanis-varoufakis/) > [No foteball player be used or suffered within the City of London and the liberties thereof upon pain of imprisonment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/no-foteball-player-be-used-or-suffered-within-the-city-of-london-and/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [I do hate the City of London! It is the only thing which ever comes between us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/i-do-hate-the-city-of-london-it-is-the-only-thing-which-ever-comes/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [The City of London has never been known for understanding technology and has never matched Silicon Valley's tradition of knowledgeable investment in technology start-ups,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/the-city-of-london-has-never-been-known-for-understanding-technology/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [“Hope is like a needle in a haystack. No matter how small, and even if you can't find it, it's there. It may just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cortes/hope-is-like-a-needle-in-a-haystack-no-matter-how-small-and-even-if/) Mark Cortes > [“Hope can be like a needle in a haystack. No matter how small, and even if you can't find it, it's there. It may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cortes/hope-can-be-like-a-needle-in-a-haystack-no-matter-how-small-and-even/) Mark Cortes > [“Like a needle in a haystack, but found!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-roberts/like-a-needle-in-a-haystack-but-found/) [Jeremy Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-roberts/) > [“I am familiar with the phrase, ‘needle in a haystack’ and I think I understand its meaning more than I wish to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wasteland-david-sadler/i-am-familiar-with-the-phrase-needle-in-a-haystack-and-i-think-i/) Wasteland David Sadler > [I'm kinda like a needle in a haystack right now cause I haven't blown up yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonreal/i-m-kinda-like-a-needle-in-a-haystack-right-now-cause-i-haven-t-blown/) SonReal > [It's a funny thing about looking for things. If you hunt for a needle in a haystack you don't find it. If you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-a-funny-thing-about-looking-for-things-if-you-hunt-for-a-needle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The way to find a needle in a haystack is to sit down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/the-way-to-find-a-needle-in-a-haystack-is-to-sit-down/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [“Hi there...Let me ask you a question...How would you find a needle in a haystack?" The first-grader pauses, pensive, tugging on the green yarn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/hi-there-let-me-ask-you-a-question-how-would-you-find-a-needle-in-a/) [Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/) > [“It was like looking for a needle in a haystack full of vipers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/it-was-like-looking-for-a-needle-in-a-haystack-full-of-vipers/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [I grew up in New York City and in London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-quart/i-grew-up-in-new-york-city-and-in-london/) [Alissa Quart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-quart/) ## More by Charles Clarke > [I am not in any way opposed to medieval studies (or for that matter Latin).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/i-am-not-in-any-way-opposed-to-medieval-studies-or-for-that-matter/) [Charles Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-clarke/) > [One of my passions is that children enjoy their time at school - and reading for pleasure can be an important part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/one-of-my-passions-is-that-children-enjoy-their-time-at-school-and/) [Charles Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-clarke/) > [The people who will succeed fifteen years from now, the countries which will succeed, are those which are most based on a sustainable vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/the-people-who-will-succeed-fifteen-years-from-now-the-countries/) [Charles Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-clarke/) > [I don't mind there being some medievalists around for ornamental purposes, but there is no reason for the State to pay for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/i-don-t-mind-there-being-some-medievalists-around-for-ornamental/) [Charles Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-clarke/) > [Yes is the answer to that question. I've enjoyed being in government... if it would be useful for me to serve I would like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/yes-is-the-answer-to-that-question-i-ve-enjoyed-being-in-government/) [Charles Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-clarke/) > [The fact is, we're looking for a very small number of very evil needles in a very large haystack, which is the city of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/the-fact-is-we-re-looking-for-a-very-small-number-of-very-evil/) [Charles Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-clarke/) > [Part of the problem is that he lacks confidence. He is nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/part-of-the-problem-is-that-he-lacks-confidence-he-is-nervous/) [Charles Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-clarke/) > [But it doesn't stop at school. We can all enjoy books throughout our lives - as I certainly continue to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/but-it-doesn-t-stop-at-school-we-can-all-enjoy-books-throughout-our/) [Charles Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-clarke/) > [We can all take responsibility for helping to bring about change, and keeping our friends and colleagues safe from domestic violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/we-can-all-take-responsibility-for-helping-to-bring-about-change-and/) [Charles Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-clarke/) > [Few nations match our rich resource of literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/few-nations-match-our-rich-resource-of-literature/) [Charles Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-clarke/) [Explore all 11 Charles Clarke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-clarke/) ## More Cities quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Cities are 2% of the earth's crust, but they are 50% of the world's population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ratti/cities-are-2-of-the-earth-s-crust-but-they-are-50-of-the-world-s/) [Carlo Ratti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ratti/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/) James Cross Giblin > [Nice is a city of ghosts and specters, but I hope not to become one of them right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/nice-is-a-city-of-ghosts-and-specters-but-i-hope-not-to-become-one-of/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-neglect-our-cities-to-our-peril-for-in-neglecting-them-we/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I didn't know the city at all, but I was so happy to be in New York I cried. I was so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-didn-t-know-the-city-at-all-but-i-was-so-happy-to-be-in-new-york-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [Outside of Paris, there is no hope for the cultured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/outside-of-paris-there-is-no-hope-for-the-cultured/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Vienna is a handsome, lively city, and pleases me exceedingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/vienna-is-a-handsome-lively-city-and-pleases-me-exceedingly/) [Frederic Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I was too tired to think. I merely felt the town as a unique unreality. What was it? I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 7,153 Cities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are always looking for a small number of very evil needles in a very large haystack, which is the city of London.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Clarke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/we-are-always-looking-for-a-small-number-of-very-evil-needles-in-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cities" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/we-are-always-looking-for-a-small-number-of-very-evil-needles-in-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/charles-clarke-38723_cities_we-are-always-looking-for-a-small-number_2326362.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/charles-clarke-38723_cities_we-are-always-looking-for-a-small-number_2326362.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/charles-clarke-38723_cities_we-are-always-looking-for-a-small-number_2326362.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are always looking for a small number of very evil needles in a very large haystack, which is the city of…” — Charles Clarke", "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": "Charles Clarke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-clarke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We are always looking for a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/we-are-always-looking-for-a-small-number-of-very-evil-needles-in-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-clarke/we-are-always-looking-for-a-small-number-of-very-evil-needles-in-a/#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 } } ] } ```