--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't come up against the world's…" description: "\"You can't come up against the world's most powerful intelligence agencies and not accept the risk.\" — Edward Snowden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/edward-snowden-555_accepting_you-can-t-come-up-against-the-world-s-mo_2353821.jpg" --- # You can't come up against the world's most powerful… ![“You can't come up against the world's most powerful intelligence agencies and not accept the risk.” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/edward-snowden-555_accepting_you-can-t-come-up-against-the-world-s-mo_2353821.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/edward-snowden-555_accepting_you-can-t-come-up-against-the-world-s-mo_2353821.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/edward-snowden-555_accepting_you-can-t-come-up-against-the-world-s-mo_2353821.jpg) > “You can't come up against the world's most powerful intelligence agencies and not accept the risk.” [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. Challenging powerful agencies entails accepting inherent risks and possible consequences. **In simple terms:** Facing powerful foes means risk. Key Takeaway Prepare for fallout before confronting authority. Themes risk power ethics Mood cautious serious Type ethical political When to use this quote - government investigations - legal battles - public disclosures Key Concepts surveillance whistleblowing state secrecy Questions to Reflect On - Are you willing to accept potential fallout? - What safeguards can you put in place? A Different Perspective Legal repercussions may be severe and personal safety threatened. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-risk-901073/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Agency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agency/) [Come up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-up/) [Government spying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-spying/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligence agencies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-agencies/) [Most powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most-powerful/) [Nsa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nsa/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Powerful Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful-intelligence-2006732/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [You can't come up against the world's most powerful intelligence agencies and not accept the risk. If they want to get you, over time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-can-t-come-up-against-the-world-s-most-powerful-intelligence-2/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [You can't come forward against the world's most powerful intelligence agencies and be completely free from risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-can-t-come-forward-against-the-world-s-most-powerful-intelligence/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The NSA has built an infrastructure that allows it to intercept almost everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-nsa-has-built-an-infrastructure-that-allows-it-to-intercept-2/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [To do that they, the NSA specifically, targets the communications of everyone. It ingests them by default. It collects them in its system and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/to-do-that-they-the-nsa-specifically-targets-the-communications-of/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [If I wanted to see your emails or your wife's phone, all I have to do is use intercepts. I can get your emails,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-i-wanted-to-see-your-emails-or-your-wife-s-phone-all-i-have-to-do/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The greatest fear that I have regarding the outcome for America of these disclosures is that nothing will change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-greatest-fear-that-i-have-regarding-the-outcome-for-america-of/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [ The great fear that I have regarding the outcome for America of these disclosures is that nothing will change. \[People\] won't be willing to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-great-fear-that-i-have-regarding-the-outcome-for-america-of-these/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Any analyst at any time can target anyone. Any selector, anywhere I, sitting at my desk, certainly had the authorities to wiretap anyone, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/any-analyst-at-any-time-can-target-anyone-any-selector-anywhere-i/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [ I believe that when \[senator Ron\] Wyden and \[senator Mark\] Udall asked about the scale of this, they \[the NSA\] said it did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-believe-that-when-senator-ron-wyden-and-senator-mark-udall-asked/) [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/) > [US intelligence agencies will only use such data to meet specific security requirements: counterintelligence, counterterrorism, counterproliferation, cybersecurity, force protection for our troops and allies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/us-intelligence-agencies-will-only-use-such-data-to-meet-specific/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Our intelligence agencies will continue to gather information about the intentions of governments - as opposed to ordinary citizens - around the world, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/our-intelligence-agencies-will-continue-to-gather-information-about/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Prior to the passage of the Patriot Act, it was very difficult - often impossible - for us to share information with the Central…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mueller/prior-to-the-passage-of-the-patriot-act-it-was-very-difficult-often/) [Robert Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mueller/) > [I like to carry around extremely pretentious books, and I don't know if I can read them, but if I hold them near me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-amidon/i-like-to-carry-around-extremely-pretentious-books-and-i-don-t-know/) [Sam Amidon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-amidon/) > [I don't want to live in a world where there's no privacy, and therefore no room for intellectual exploration and creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-don-t-want-to-live-in-a-world-where-there-s-no-privacy-and/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) ## 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/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [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 Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't come up against the world's most powerful intelligence agencies and not accept the risk.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Snowden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-can-t-come-up-against-the-world-s-most-powerful-intelligence/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-can-t-come-up-against-the-world-s-most-powerful-intelligence/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/edward-snowden-555_accepting_you-can-t-come-up-against-the-world-s-mo_2353821.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/edward-snowden-555_accepting_you-can-t-come-up-against-the-world-s-mo_2353821.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/edward-snowden-555_accepting_you-can-t-come-up-against-the-world-s-mo_2353821.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't come up against the world's most powerful intelligence agencies and not accept the risk.” — Edward Snowden", "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": "Edward Snowden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't come up against the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-can-t-come-up-against-the-world-s-most-powerful-intelligence/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-can-t-come-up-against-the-world-s-most-powerful-intelligence/#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 } } ] } ```