Believe Quote by Edward Snowden
“I believe that at this point in history, the greatest danger to our freedom and way of life comes from the reasonable fear of omniscient State powers kept in check by nothing more than policy documents.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview, 2015
Freedom is threatened when powerful states act unchecked, relying only on policy paperwork rather than transparent oversight.
In simple terms: Unchecked state power endangers liberty.
Key Takeaway
Demand accountability and transparency.
Themes
freedom
government
surveillance
Mood
cautious
urgent
Type
political
activist
When to use this quote
- political activism
- legal reform
- public awareness
- media scrutiny
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
policy
privacy
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms can truly check state power?
- How can citizens influence policy?
A Different Perspective
Policy documents alone may not prevent abuse.
![“[Brazil] went to the UN and said, "We need new standards for this." We need to take a look at what they're calling "data sovereignty."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af7/edward-snowden-555_brazil_brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-n_14906.jpg)
![“There was a real choice when [Barack Obama] became president. It was a very difficult choice - to say, "We're not going to hold senior officials to account with the same laws that every other citizen in the country is held to," or "This is a nation that believes in the rule of law."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/104/edward-snowden-555_accounts_there-was-a-real-choice-when-barack-obam_27838.jpg)
