---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I see Edward Snowden as someone who has…"
description: "\"I see Edward Snowden as someone who has chosen, at best, exile from the country he loves-with a serious risk of his assassination by agents of his gove..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/daniel-ellsberg-11718_agents_i-see-edward-snowden-as-someone-who-has_3196534.jpg"
---

#  I see Edward Snowden as someone who has chosen, at best…

![“I see Edward Snowden as someone who has chosen, at best, exile from the country he loves-with a serious risk of his assassination by agents of his government or life in prison (in solitary confinement)-to awaken us to the danger of our loss of democracy to a total-surveilla nce state” quote by Daniel Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/daniel-ellsberg-11718_agents_i-see-edward-snowden-as-someone-who-has_3196534.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/daniel-ellsberg-11718_agents_i-see-edward-snowden-as-someone-who-has_3196534.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/daniel-ellsberg-11718_agents_i-see-edward-snowden-as-someone-who-has_3196534.jpg)

> “I see Edward Snowden as someone who has chosen, at best, exile from the country he loves-with a serious risk of his assassination by agents of his government or life in prison (in solitary confinement)-to awaken us to the danger of our loss of democracy to a total-surveilla nce state”

[Daniel Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ellsberg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Whistleblowers risk personal safety to expose governmental overreach, hoping to protect democratic values.

**In simple terms:** Risking personal safety to reveal truth.

Key Takeaway

Support transparency and protect those who expose injustice.

Themes

ethics politics activism

Mood

concerned hopeful

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- journalism
- legal reform
- public policy debate
- human rights advocacy

Key Concepts

surveillance democracy whistleblowing government accountability

Questions to Reflect On

- What safeguards can protect whistleblowers?
- How can societies balance security and freedom?

A Different Perspective

Potential backlash can silence future whistleblowers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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> [ \[Edward Snowden and his team\] they're great characters. They're fascinating people. They were in an extraordinary situation. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/edward-snowden-and-his-team-they-re-great-characters-they-re/)

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## More by Daniel Ellsberg

> [If monarchy is corrupting - and it is - wait till you see what overt empire does to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ellsberg/if-monarchy-is-corrupting-and-it-is-wait-till-you-see-what-overt/)

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