---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These governments know much more than…"
description: "\"“These governments know much more than they will ever tell or care to spend money locating, because they have most of it tied up elsewhere.” “Back pock..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/david-leadbeater-40308_governments_these-governments-know-much-more-than-th_604113.jpg"
---

#  These governments know much more than they will ever tell…

![“These governments know much more than they will ever tell or care to spend money locating, because they have most of it tied up elsewhere.” “Back pockets? Election victories? Presidential campaigns? Smart motorways touted to ease congestion that suddenly sprout more cameras and recognition…” quote by David Leadbeater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/david-leadbeater-40308_governments_these-governments-know-much-more-than-th_604113.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/david-leadbeater-40308_governments_these-governments-know-much-more-than-th_604113.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/david-leadbeater-40308_governments_these-governments-know-much-more-than-th_604113.jpg)

> ““These governments know much more than they will ever tell or care to spend money locating, because they have most of it tied up elsewhere.” “Back pockets? Election victories? Presidential campaigns? Smart motorways touted to ease congestion that suddenly sprout more cameras and recognition programs than a Hollywood whorehouse?” Karin nodded. “That’s about it.” Drake””

[David Leadbeater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leadbeater/)

## About This Quote

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

Powerful entities often conceal their true motives and financial interests, using public projects as fronts for hidden agendas.

**In simple terms:** Authorities hide true motives behind public projects.

Key Takeaway

Question transparency and accountability.

Themes

politics corruption media trust power

Mood

skeptical critical concerned

Type

political analytical critical

When to use this quote

- elections
- infrastructure projects
- public spending
- campaign finance
- surveillance programs

Key Concepts

public policy hidden agendas financial manipulation

Questions to Reflect On

- What evidence supports these hidden motives?
- How can citizens demand more openness?

A Different Perspective

The quote may exaggerate and lack specific evidence for all claims.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/)

## Related quotes

> [Governments know that the life of the world cannot be saved if the soul of the world is allowed to be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/governments-know-that-the-life-of-the-world-cannot-be-saved-if-the/)

[Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/)

> [The main mark of modern governments is that we do not know who governs, de facto any more than de jure. We see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/the-main-mark-of-modern-governments-is-that-we-do-not-know-who/)

[J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/)

> [Governments do not know what they cannot do until after they cease to be governments. Each government carries the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/governments-do-not-know-what-they-cannot-do-until-after-they-cease-to/)

[Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/)

> [I like touring, and I like stopping off at service stations and driving along motorways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-acaster/i-like-touring-and-i-like-stopping-off-at-service-stations-and/)

[James Acaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-acaster/)

> [Nothing interesting ever happens on motorways or in hotels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-boorman/nothing-interesting-ever-happens-on-motorways-or-in-hotels/)

[Charley Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-boorman/)

> [Just as modern motorways have no room for ox-carts or wandering pedestrians, so modern society has little place for lives and ways that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/just-as-modern-motorways-have-no-room-for-ox-carts-or-wandering/)

[A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/)

> [I realised, of course, that other people used these roads; but that night, it seemed to me these dark byways of the country existed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/i-realised-of-course-that-other-people-used-these-roads-but-that/)

[Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/)

> [Until the late 1950s Britain's leaders were slow to appreciate the social and economic value of motorways. The first stretch of German Autobahn had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/until-the-late-1950s-britain-s-leaders-were-slow-to-appreciate-the/)

[Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/)

> [Women spend the money of society on its goods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mollison/women-spend-the-money-of-society-on-its-goods/)

[Bill Mollison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mollison/)

> [Everybody loves to spend money at least some of the time - because everybody loves the stuff you can buy with it. The key…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/everybody-loves-to-spend-money-at-least-some-of-the-time-because/)

[Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/)

> [That's the biggest rule in Hollywood: Don't spend your own money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/that-s-the-biggest-rule-in-hollywood-don-t-spend-your-own-money/)

[Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/)

> [“Any writer or journalist who wants to retain his integrity finds himself thwarted by the general drift of society rather than by active persecution.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/any-writer-or-journalist-who-wants-to-retain-his-integrity-finds/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [“Capitalist cycle of profit. The rancher sells a cow for profit. The butcher sells cuts for profit. The restaurant sells meals for profit. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/capitalist-cycle-of-profit-the-rancher-sells-a-cow-for-profit-the/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Stop spending money to be nominated for worthless awards with no substance and no worth to your career. If you have to spend money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-weisman/stop-spending-money-to-be-nominated-for-worthless-awards-with-no/)

[Loren Weisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-weisman/)

> [“Don't let someone spend money who never earned it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cole/don-t-let-someone-spend-money-who-never-earned-it/)

[Nick Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cole/)

## More by David Leadbeater

> [“And it will never change. In the military it’s like—here’s the new threat, same as the old threat. The Taliban and Al-Qaeda we helped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leadbeater/and-it-will-never-change-in-the-military-it-s-like-here-s-the-new/)

[David Leadbeater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leadbeater/)

> [“One thing about the advent of mobile phones, she reflected, They make loitering around appear so much more authentic. She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leadbeater/one-thing-about-the-advent-of-mobile-phones-she-reflected-they-make/)

[David Leadbeater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leadbeater/)

> [“In life’s tribunal there were no real judgments, no major prosecutions. Just experience. And emotion. “So”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leadbeater/in-life-s-tribunal-there-were-no-real-judgments-no-major-prosecutions/)

[David Leadbeater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leadbeater/)

> [“Euhemerus said mythology was ‘history in disguise’. It”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leadbeater/euhemerus-said-mythology-was-history-in-disguise-it/)

[David Leadbeater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leadbeater/)

> [“War diminished you. It chipped chunks from your soul, took the man and molded him into a darker shadow of his real self. But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leadbeater/war-diminished-you-it-chipped-chunks-from-your-soul-took-the-man-and/)

[David Leadbeater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leadbeater/)

> [“The members drifted apart, did their own thing for a while, then came together somewhere down the line, in some merciless, dark rat hole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leadbeater/the-members-drifted-apart-did-their-own-thing-for-a-while-then-came/)

[David Leadbeater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leadbeater/)

> [“Training was everything in the art of fighting, and Drake’s was returning faster than a politician could dodge a key question. Instantly,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leadbeater/training-was-everything-in-the-art-of-fighting-and-drake-s-was/)

[David Leadbeater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leadbeater/)

> [“Alicia sighed. “I remember those days.” “Until Drake tamed you?” Dahl asked innocently. “Torstyyyyy . . .” Alicia said in a warning tone. “Any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leadbeater/alicia-sighed-i-remember-those-days-until-drake-tamed-you-dahl-asked/)

[David Leadbeater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leadbeater/)

> [“There’s an old Japanese proverb—to wait for luck is the same as waiting for one’s death. We make our own luck, my old friend.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leadbeater/there-s-an-old-japanese-proverb-to-wait-for-luck-is-the-same-as/)

[David Leadbeater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leadbeater/)

> [“Kennedy Moore sat staring at her PC screen, seeing nothing at all, and thought about how much life could grind you under its heartless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leadbeater/kennedy-moore-sat-staring-at-her-pc-screen-seeing-nothing-at-all-and/)

[David Leadbeater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leadbeater/)

[Explore all 11 David Leadbeater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leadbeater/)

## More Governments quotes

> [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/)

[Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/)

> [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [If we do not adhere firmly to the constitution, our governments will not last long and will change frequently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suharto/if-we-do-not-adhere-firmly-to-the-constitution-our-governments-will/)

[Suharto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suharto/)

> [The governments are seen to be less effective than they used to be. The private sector is perceived as being so much more efficient,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/the-governments-are-seen-to-be-less-effective-than-they-used-to-be/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [The true forms of government, therefore, are those in which the one, or the few, or the many, govern with a view to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-true-forms-of-government-therefore-are-those-in-which-the-one-or/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [The greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-greatest-of-all-crimes-are-the-wars-that-are-carried-on-by/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [I think it true that, you know, sometimes things start to change even before a government changes and, actually, I think you can begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-think-it-true-that-you-know-sometimes-things-start-to-change-even/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [The claim of the State Socialists, however, that this right would not be exercised in matters pertaining to the individual in the more intimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/the-claim-of-the-state-socialists-however-that-this-right-would-not/)

[Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/)

> [The main thing that endears the United Nations to member governments, and so enables it to survive, is its proven capacity to fail, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-cruise-o-brien/the-main-thing-that-endears-the-united-nations-to-member-governments/)

[Conor Cruise O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-cruise-o-brien/)

> [For political and bureaucratic reasons, governments at all levels are telling far less to the public than to insiders about how to prepare for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/for-political-and-bureaucratic-reasons-governments-at-all-levels-are/)

[Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/)

> [When governments claim to derive their authority from any source other than the governed, it always leads to the destruction of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-edward-griffin/when-governments-claim-to-derive-their-authority-from-any-source/)

[G. Edward Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-edward-griffin/)

> [Ordinary citizens are obliged and, if need be, compelled by force to meet their commitments. But let higher obligations of an international order be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-albert-gobat/ordinary-citizens-are-obliged-and-if-need-be-compelled-by-force-to/)

[Charles Albert Gobat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-albert-gobat/)

> [Democratical States must always feel before they can see: it is this that makes their Governments slow, but the people will be right at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/democratical-states-must-always-feel-before-they-can-see-it-is-this/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [Remarkably, governments are beginning to embrace the idea that nothing enhances democracy more than giving voice and information to everybody in the country. Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/remarkably-governments-are-beginning-to-embrace-the-idea-that-nothing/)

[Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/)

[Browse all 795 Governments quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“These governments know much more than they will ever tell or care to spend money locating, because they have most of it tied up elsewhere.” “Back pockets? Election victories? Presidential campaigns? Smart motorways touted to ease congestion that suddenly sprout more cameras and recognition programs than a Hollywood whorehouse?” Karin nodded. “That’s about it.” Drake”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Leadbeater"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leadbeater/these-governments-know-much-more-than-they-will-ever-tell-or-care-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Governments"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leadbeater/these-governments-know-much-more-than-they-will-ever-tell-or-care-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/david-leadbeater-40308_governments_these-governments-know-much-more-than-th_604113.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/david-leadbeater-40308_governments_these-governments-know-much-more-than-th_604113.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/david-leadbeater-40308_governments_these-governments-know-much-more-than-th_604113.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“These governments know much more than they will ever tell or care to spend money locating, because they have…” — David Leadbeater",
                "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": "David Leadbeater",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leadbeater/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“These governments know much more than...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leadbeater/these-governments-know-much-more-than-they-will-ever-tell-or-care-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leadbeater/these-governments-know-much-more-than-they-will-ever-tell-or-care-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
