---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every time somebody on the internet sort…"
description: "\"Every time somebody on the internet sort of glances at us sideways, we launch an attack at them. That's not going to work out for us long term, and the..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/edward-snowden-555_get-ahead_every-time-somebody-on-the-internet-sort_2088191.jpg"
---

#  Every time somebody on the internet sort of glances at us…

![“Every time somebody on the internet sort of glances at us sideways, we launch an attack at them. That's not going to work out for us long term, and the U.S. have to get ahead of the problem if we're going to succeed.” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/edward-snowden-555_get-ahead_every-time-somebody-on-the-internet-sort_2088191.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/edward-snowden-555_get-ahead_every-time-somebody-on-the-internet-sort_2088191.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/edward-snowden-555_get-ahead_every-time-somebody-on-the-internet-sort_2088191.jpg)

> “Every time somebody on the internet sort of glances at us sideways, we launch an attack at them. That's not going to work out for us long term, and the U.S. have to get ahead of the problem if we're going to succeed.”

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

## About This Quote

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

Defensive reactions to criticism online are unsustainable; proactive, strategic approaches are required for long‑term success.

**In simple terms:** Attacks on critics won’t work; plan ahead.

Key Takeaway

Adopt proactive, collaborative strategies.

Themes

security communication strategy

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

strategic inspirational

When to use this quote

- online community management
- policy development
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

cybersecurity public relations

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we address criticism constructively?
- What proactive steps can we take?

A Different Perspective

Short‑term aggression can damage reputation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attack/) [Attack Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attack-going-1002978/) [Get ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-ahead/) [Glances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glances/) [Going to work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-to-work/) [Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hacker/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Launch Attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/launch-attack-4114512/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Sideways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sideways/) [Somebody Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somebody-internet-4114511/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/)

## Related quotes

> [“Somebody on the Internet thinks what you do is stupid or evil, or it's all been done before? Make good art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/somebody-on-the-internet-thinks-what-you-do-is-stupid-or-evil-or-it-s/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“The best intentions, target account lists, and powerful sales weapons are useless if we never launch the attack.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-weinberg/the-best-intentions-target-account-lists-and-powerful-sales-weapons/)

[Mike Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-weinberg/)

> [Most of my life, everybody made more money than I did at the places I worked. In fact, when I've been an employee, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/most-of-my-life-everybody-made-more-money-than-i-did-at-the-places-i/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [ We're \[the USA\] not going to go attack anyone. We're going to be really cool. We're not going to be exceptional anymore. Everyone's on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bolling/we-re-the-usa-not-going-to-go-attack-anyone-we-re-going-to-be-really/)

[Eric Bolling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bolling/)

> [If there's any guy crazy enough to attack me, I'm going to show him the end of the world -- close up. I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/if-there-s-any-guy-crazy-enough-to-attack-me-i-m-going-to-show-him/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [The American public doesn't have to know the date and hour and second that we're going to attack and from what side we're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-american-public-doesn-t-have-to-know-the-date-and-hour-and-second/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [“The evil one knows where to attack. He is going to attack the home. He is going to destroy the family. That's what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/the-evil-one-knows-where-to-attack-he-is-going-to-attack-the-home-he/)

[Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/)

> [If your attack is going too well, youre walking into an ambush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/infantry-journal/if-your-attack-is-going-too-well-youre-walking-into-an-ambush/)

[Infantry Journal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/infantry-journal/)

> [If I've got something do. I'm going to attack it. I'm going to attack that stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/if-i-ve-got-something-do-i-m-going-to-attack-it-i-m-going-to-attack/)

[Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/)

> [When you expect to get into a negotiation, you expect to be faced by a guy that's going to attack you, a guy or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/when-you-expect-to-get-into-a-negotiation-you-expect-to-be-faced-by-a/)

[Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/)

> [Nothing is more deadly to achievement than the belief that effort will not be rewarded, that the world is a bleak and discriminatory place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gilder/nothing-is-more-deadly-to-achievement-than-the-belief-that-effort/)

[George Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gilder/)

> [We've done things that are faster at times, but it's definitely different when we direct all the episodes because it's like we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-duplass/we-ve-done-things-that-are-faster-at-times-but-it-s-definitely/)

[Mark Duplass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-duplass/)

> [If you want to get ahead in this world get a lawyer -- not a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/if-you-want-to-get-ahead-in-this-world-get-a-lawyer-not-a-book/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [Prejudice against womenis many, many times intensified against older women. You are viewed not as an intellect but as a body… Astonishingly, even women's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elinor-guggenheimer/prejudice-against-womenis-many-many-times-intensified-against-older/)

[Elinor Guggenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elinor-guggenheimer/)

> [Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-loren/getting-ahead-in-a-difficult-profession-requires-avid-faith-in/)

[Sophia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-loren/)

## More by Edward Snowden

> [It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised - and it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-is-afraid-of-an-informed-angry-public-demanding-the-constitutional/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [Much of what I saw in Geneva really disillusioned me about how my government functions and what its impact is in the world. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/much-of-what-i-saw-in-geneva-really-disillusioned-me-about-how-my/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [The NSA and Israel wrote Stuxnet together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-nsa-and-israel-wrote-stuxnet-together/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [As a general rule, so long as you have any choice at all, you should never route through or peer with the UK under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/as-a-general-rule-so-long-as-you-have-any-choice-at-all-you-should/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [ \[Brazil\] went to the UN and said, "We need new standards for this." We need to take a look at what they're calling "data… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-new-standards-for-this-we-need/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [You are also asked to take an oath, and that's the oath of service. The oath of service is not to secrecy, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-are-also-asked-to-take-an-oath-and-that-s-the-oath-of-service-the/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [We need to think about encryption not as this sort of arcane, black art. It's a basic protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-need-to-think-about-encryption-not-as-this-sort-of-arcane-black/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [A lot of people in 2008 voted for Obama. I did not vote for him. I voted for a third party. But I believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/a-lot-of-people-in-2008-voted-for-obama-i-did-not-vote-for-him-i/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [Too often we forget that social and political movements don't happen overnight. They don't bring change immediately - you have to build a critical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/too-often-we-forget-that-social-and-political-movements-don-t-happen/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [ There was a real choice when \[Barack Obama\] became president. It was a very difficult choice - to say, "We're not going to hold… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/there-was-a-real-choice-when-barack-obama-became-president-it-was-a/)

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> [We've learned that we've allowed technological capabilities to dictate policies and practices, rather than ensuring that our laws and values guide our technological capabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-ve-learned-that-we-ve-allowed-technological-capabilities-to/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [It's much easier, I think, to protect communications while they're in transit at least, than it is to enforce legislation in every country in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-s-much-easier-i-think-to-protect-communications-while-they-re-in/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [If an adversary didn't target our power plants but they did target the core routers, the backbones that tie our internet connections together, entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-an-adversary-didn-t-target-our-power-plants-but-they-did-target/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [I care more about the country than what happens to me. But we can't allow the law to become a political weapon or agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-care-more-about-the-country-than-what-happens-to-me-but-we-can-t/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

[Explore all 478 Edward Snowden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

## More Attack quotes

> [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/)

[Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/)

> [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/)

[Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/)

> [When I hit bottom, I can attack the problem and get to where I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/when-i-hit-bottom-i-can-attack-the-problem-and-get-to-where-i-want-to/)

[Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/)

> [It was both necessary and desirable for us to be so strong at sea that no Sea Power could attack us without risk, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-von-bulow/it-was-both-necessary-and-desirable-for-us-to-be-so-strong-at-sea/)

[Bernhard von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-von-bulow/)

> [The best way to counter-attack a hater is to make it blatantly obvious that their attack has had no impact on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/the-best-way-to-counter-attack-a-hater-is-to-make-it-blatantly/)

[Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/)

> [President Obama has never summarized the Obama Doctrine with such clarity, but here is what it would look like: 'I will undertake any military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/president-obama-has-never-summarized-the-obama-doctrine-with-such/)

[Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/)

> [Everything has got a place in my house. If something is moved I get a panic attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rylan-clark-neal/everything-has-got-a-place-in-my-house-if-something-is-moved-i-get-a/)

[Rylan Clark-Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rylan-clark-neal/)

> [I mean, it's not just the rappers, you know what i'm saying? People want to attack anybody that's a large figure, you know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/i-mean-it-s-not-just-the-rappers-you-know-what-i-m-saying-people-want/)

[The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/)

> [Sometimes when you take a tough action against one side in the conflict, they see you as part of the conflict and they attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/sometimes-when-you-take-a-tough-action-against-one-side-in-the/)

[Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/)

> [“Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/hence-when-able-to-attack-we-must-seem-unable-when-using-our-forces/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [Free speech has a very small constituency on the modern campus, particularly if the speaker under attack is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leo/free-speech-has-a-very-small-constituency-on-the-modern-campus/)

[John Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leo/)

> [Daniil is a player who will not give you many chances to attack. If I have enough power and choose the right moment, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrey-rublev/daniil-is-a-player-who-will-not-give-you-many-chances-to-attack-if-i/)

[Andrey Rublev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrey-rublev/)

> [Distributed ledgers are inherently harder to attack because instead of a single database, there are multiple shared copies of the same database, so a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-walport/distributed-ledgers-are-inherently-harder-to-attack-because-instead/)

[Mark Walport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-walport/)

> [Attack life. It's going to kill you anyways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/attack-life-it-s-going-to-kill-you-anyways/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [For those of us in the political business, generally, it's been pretty much an unwritten but understood rule that family and children are out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/for-those-of-us-in-the-political-business-generally-it-s-been-pretty/)

[Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/)

[Browse all 1,074 Attack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attack/)

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