--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We, the FBI, don't investigate ideology…" description: "\"We, the FBI, don't investigate ideology, no matter how repugnant. When it turns to violence, we're all over it.\" — Christopher A. Wray" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/christopher-a-wray-6268_fbi_we-the-fbi-don-t-investigate-ideology-no_634729.jpg" --- # We, the FBI, don't investigate ideology, no matter how… ![“We, the FBI, don't investigate ideology, no matter how repugnant. When it turns to violence, we're all over it.” quote by Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/christopher-a-wray-6268_fbi_we-the-fbi-don-t-investigate-ideology-no_634729.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/christopher-a-wray-6268_fbi_we-the-fbi-don-t-investigate-ideology-no_634729.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/christopher-a-wray-6268_fbi_we-the-fbi-don-t-investigate-ideology-no_634729.jpg) > “We, the FBI, don't investigate ideology, no matter how repugnant. When it turns to violence, we're all over it.” [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The FBI claims it does not target beliefs, only violent actions, emphasizing law enforcement over ideology. **In simple terms:** FBI focuses on violent acts, not ideas. Key Takeaway Monitor behavior, not just words. Themes law enforcement ideology violence civil liberties Mood cautious critical Type political policy When to use this quote - policy debates - community safety - media reporting Key Concepts constitutional limits counterterrorism ethical policing Questions to Reflect On - How should agencies balance free speech with preventing violence? - What safeguards protect civil liberties? A Different Perspective Critics argue this stance may overlook extremist rhetoric that fuels violence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideology/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [“War is fought over futile and feudal things. War is not about ideology, no matter how artfully framed, but it’s simply about power and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/war-is-fought-over-futile-and-feudal-things-war-is-not-about-ideology/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [It seems to me virtually any ideology, no matter how intrinsically benign, can be used to oppress. And any group with power, no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/it-seems-to-me-virtually-any-ideology-no-matter-how-intrinsically/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [Our folks at the FBI and at DOJ are working their tails off every day to protect our nation's companies, our universities, our computer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/our-folks-at-the-fbi-and-at-doj-are-working-their-tails-off-every-day/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [Just as our adversaries evolve, so, too, must the FBI.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/just-as-our-adversaries-evolve-so-too-must-the-fbi/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [America's elections are the foundation of our democracy - so protecting them is a priority for the FBI and our partners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/america-s-elections-are-the-foundation-of-our-democracy-so-protecting/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [My view is that, if any public official or member of any campaign is contacted by any nation-state or anybody acting on behalf of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/my-view-is-that-if-any-public-official-or-member-of-any-campaign-is/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [I can't imagine a situation where, as FBI director, I would be giving a press conference on an uncharged individual, much less talking in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/i-can-t-imagine-a-situation-where-as-fbi-director-i-would-be-giving-a/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [As the Director of the FBI, I am committed to ensuring that the Bureau is being transparent and responsive to legitimate congressional requests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/as-the-director-of-the-fbi-i-am-committed-to-ensuring-that-the-bureau/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [Our folks at the FBI are working their tails off every day to stop and find criminals, terrorists, and nation-state adversaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/our-folks-at-the-fbi-are-working-their-tails-off-every-day-to-stop/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [A line of duty death, whether an officer, special agent, or professional staff employee, is personal to the FBI, and it's personal to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/a-line-of-duty-death-whether-an-officer-special-agent-or-professional/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [Cybersecurity is a central part of the FBI's mission. It's one part of the broader safety net we try to provide the American people:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/cybersecurity-is-a-central-part-of-the-fbi-s-mission-it-s-one-part-of/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [The inability to access evidence or intelligence despite the lawful authority to do so significantly impacts the FBI's ability to identify, investigate, prosecute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/the-inability-to-access-evidence-or-intelligence-despite-the-lawful/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [The FBI is a field-based law enforcement organization, and the vast majority of our investigations should continue to be worked by our field offices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/the-fbi-is-a-field-based-law-enforcement-organization-and-the-vast/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [The FBI assesses HVEs are the greatest terrorism threat to the homeland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/the-fbi-assesses-hves-are-the-greatest-terrorism-threat-to-the/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [The FBI holds sacred the rights of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment freedoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/the-fbi-holds-sacred-the-rights-of-individuals-to-peacefully-exercise/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) ## More by Christopher A. Wray > [Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder, at our expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/put-plainly-china-seems-determined-to-steal-its-way-up-the-economic/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [What was once a comparatively minor threat - people hacking for fun or for bragging rights - has turned into full-blown economic espionage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/what-was-once-a-comparatively-minor-threat-people-hacking-for-fun-or/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [At the end of the day, our work is what endures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/at-the-end-of-the-day-our-work-is-what-endures/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [In pursuit of their commercial ambitions, Huawei relied on dishonest business practices that contradict the economic principles that have allowed American companies and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/in-pursuit-of-their-commercial-ambitions-huawei-relied-on-dishonest/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [The FBI holds sacred the rights of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment freedoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/the-fbi-holds-sacred-the-rights-of-individuals-to-peacefully-exercise/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [Our work in investigating the Oklahoma City bombing reflected some of the very best the FBI has to offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/our-work-in-investigating-the-oklahoma-city-bombing-reflected-some-of/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [We've created these Protected Voices videos to showcase the methods these adversaries might use, and to help campaigns practice good cyber hygiene, because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/we-ve-created-these-protected-voices-videos-to-showcase-the-methods/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as Director. I long ago grew to know and admire the FBI from my earliest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/it-is-the-honor-of-a-lifetime-to-serve-as-director-i-long-ago-grew-to/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [The cyber threat has evolved dramatically since I left DOJ in 2005, partly just reflecting how much the digital world has itself evolved over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/the-cyber-threat-has-evolved-dramatically-since-i-left-doj-in-2005/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [The FBI assesses HVEs are the greatest terrorism threat to the homeland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/the-fbi-assesses-hves-are-the-greatest-terrorism-threat-to-the/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [As Americans, we should all be concerned by the potential for any company beholden to a foreign government - especially one that doesn't share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/as-americans-we-should-all-be-concerned-by-the-potential-for-any/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [Our adversaries are trying to undermine our country on a persistent and regular basis, whether it's election season or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/our-adversaries-are-trying-to-undermine-our-country-on-a-persistent/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [FISA is one of the most important investigative tools we've got in preventing our adversaries from harming our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/fisa-is-one-of-the-most-important-investigative-tools-we-ve-got-in/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [Understanding the Chinese counterintelligence threat better will help us respond to it more effectively. China is taking a multi-faceted approach, so we've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/understanding-the-chinese-counterintelligence-threat-better-will-help/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [We've got to make sure tech companies - all of them - aren't taking steps that will place content beyond the reach of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/we-ve-got-to-make-sure-tech-companies-all-of-them-aren-t-taking-steps/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) [Explore all 99 Christopher A. Wray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) ## More Fbi quotes > [Martha Stewart showed up at Manhattan FBI Headquarters to have her finger prints taken and pose for a mug shot. Then Martha explained how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/martha-stewart-showed-up-at-manhattan-fbi-headquarters-to-have-her/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [I know firsthand from my experience working counterintelligence investigations for the FBI that kicking a diplomat out of the country is no small thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/i-know-firsthand-from-my-experience-working-counterintelligence/) [Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/) > [An FBI agent ought to be able to surf the net and look for sites that instruct people how to make bombs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ashcroft/an-fbi-agent-ought-to-be-able-to-surf-the-net-and-look-for-sites-that/) [John Ashcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ashcroft/) > [It won't ruin our movement if someone gets killed in an animal rights action. It's going to happen sooner or later. The Animal Liberation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-vlasak/it-won-t-ruin-our-movement-if-someone-gets-killed-in-an-animal-rights/) [Jerry Vlasak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-vlasak/) > [On the one hand, you don't want to disrupt the nation with what might look like a vindictive prosecution, even though it might not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/on-the-one-hand-you-don-t-want-to-disrupt-the-nation-with-what-might/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [Asked at the hearing why she hadn't pressed the FBI more closely about what it knew, or didn't know, about domestic terrorist threats, Rice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-fineman/asked-at-the-hearing-why-she-hadn-t-pressed-the-fbi-more-closely/) [Howard Fineman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-fineman/) > [I didn't know the organization, but the one thing you can say about the FBI, it's tremendously professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mueller/i-didn-t-know-the-organization-but-the-one-thing-you-can-say-about/) [Robert Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mueller/) > [That job should not be a political job. We should not be hearing very publicly from the leader of the FBI.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-bondi/that-job-should-not-be-a-political-job-we-should-not-be-hearing-very/) [Pam Bondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-bondi/) > [You know, back in the 1950s and '60s, when J. Edgar Hoover was making the FBI the respected organization it used to be, oftentimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-carr/you-know-back-in-the-1950s-and-60s-when-j-edgar-hoover-was-making-the/) [Howie Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-carr/) > [But we had - I think if you look at law enforcement 10 years ago, if you look at the challenges, the FBI was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mueller/but-we-had-i-think-if-you-look-at-law-enforcement-10-years-ago-if-you/) [Robert Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mueller/) > [The FBI has a very clear policy. 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They are going to start working together. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-heard-some-good-news-today-the-fbi-and-the-cia-are-going-to-start/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) Browse all 420 Fbi quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We, the FBI, don't investigate ideology, no matter how repugnant. When it turns to violence, we're all over it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher A. 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