--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To those in the executive branch who say…" description: "\"To those in the executive branch who say ‘just trust us’ when it comes to secret and warrantless surveillance of domestic communications, I say, ‘Remem..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/eric-holder-7429_branches_to-those-in-the-executive-branch-who-say_955510.jpg" --- # To those in the executive branch who say ‘just trust us’… ![“To those in the executive branch who say ‘just trust us’ when it comes to secret and warrantless surveillance of domestic communications, I say, ‘Remember your history.’” quote by Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/eric-holder-7429_branches_to-those-in-the-executive-branch-who-say_955510.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/eric-holder-7429_branches_to-those-in-the-executive-branch-who-say_955510.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/eric-holder-7429_branches_to-those-in-the-executive-branch-who-say_955510.jpg) > “To those in the executive branch who say ‘just trust us’ when it comes to secret and warrantless surveillance of domestic communications, I say, ‘Remember your history.’” [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Officials urging trust in secret surveillance should recall past abuses of power that harmed civil liberties. **In simple terms:** Remember past surveillance abuses before trusting new ones. Key Takeaway Demand transparency and oversight. Themes government surveillance trust history civil liberties Mood cautious critical Type political ethical When to use this quote - legislative debate - public advocacy - journalism - policy review Key Concepts Legal precedent privacy rights government accountability Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards are needed? - How can history guide current policy? A Different Perspective Trust can be eroded by secrecy and past betrayals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Executive branch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executive-branch/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Surveillance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surveillance/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [With all do respect, senator, I don't think this is an appropriate setting for me to discuss that issue. I'd be more than glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/with-all-do-respect-senator-i-don-t-think-this-is-an-appropriate/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [“Remember, your history is a total mystery. Sometimes it seems that a lot is happening in a short period of time – and, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-hochberg/remember-your-history-is-a-total-mystery-sometimes-it-seems-that-a/) [Art Hochberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-hochberg/) > [“You have to remember, the history the powers-that-be feed you always excludes what they managed to bury. Or whom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/you-have-to-remember-the-history-the-powers-that-be-feed-you-always/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [From Jefferson to Jackson to Lincoln to FDR to Reagan, every great president inspires enormous affection and enormous hostility. We'll all be much saner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/from-jefferson-to-jackson-to-lincoln-to-fdr-to-reagan-every-great/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [“It is said that those who fail to remember history are doomed to repeat it. That’s not quite correct. We all forget history. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-is-said-that-those-who-fail-to-remember-history-are-doomed-to/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Then I despair... I remember that all through history, the way of truth and love has always won. There have been murderers and tyrants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-malraux/then-i-despair-i-remember-that-all-through-history-the-way-of-truth/) [Andre Malraux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-malraux/) > [The one who does not remember history is bound to live through it again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/the-one-who-does-not-remember-history-is-bound-to-live-through-it/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [That is the danger we now face. And this is why the intermixing of science and politics is a bad combination, with a bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/that-is-the-danger-we-now-face-and-this-is-why-the-intermixing-of/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/when-i-despair-i-remember-that-all-through-history-the-way-of-truth-2/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [It's incumbent on all of us to remember our history and not repeat our past sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/it-s-incumbent-on-all-of-us-to-remember-our-history-and-not-repeat/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [Remember that history always repeats itself. Every great bubble in history has broken. There are no exceptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-grantham/remember-that-history-always-repeats-itself-every-great-bubble-in/) [Jeremy Grantham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-grantham/) > [“On the board, Mr. Beery had written "Those who don't remember history are doomed to repeat it." I wasn't sure if this was meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/on-the-board-mr-beery-had-written-those-who-don-t-remember-history/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [When I despair I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won there have been tyrants and murderers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-despair-i-remember-that-all-through-history-the-way-of-truth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/remember-that-all-through-history-the-way-of-truth-and-love-has/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [If you don't remember history accurately, how can you learn?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/if-you-don-t-remember-history-accurately-how-can-you-learn/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) ## More by Eric Holder > [Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-of-itself-as-an-ethnic-melting/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [The full resources of the Department of Justice have been committed to the investigation into Michael Brown's death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/the-full-resources-of-the-department-of-justice-have-been-committed/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Ferguson and St. Louis County are not the first places that we have become engaged to ensure fair and equitable policing, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/ferguson-and-st-louis-county-are-not-the-first-places-that-we-have/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Some have argued that the President is required to get permission from a federal court before taking action against a United States citizen who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/some-have-argued-that-the-president-is-required-to-get-permission/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I look forward to working with the NRA to come up with ways in which we can use common sense approaches to reduce the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-look-forward-to-working-with-the-nra-to-come-up-with-ways-in-which/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [This is going to be a very transparent Justice Department. But I'm not gonna sacrifice the safety of the American people or our ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/this-is-going-to-be-a-very-transparent-justice-department-but-i-m-not/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I have loved the Department of Justice ever since, as a young boy, I watched Robert Kennedy prove during the Civil Rights Movement how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-have-loved-the-department-of-justice-ever-since-as-a-young-boy-i/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [You constantly hear about voter fraud... but you don't see huge amounts of vote fraud out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/you-constantly-hear-about-voter-fraud-but-you-don-t-see-huge-amounts/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I'm a 21st-century guy, secure in who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-m-a-21st-century-guy-secure-in-who-i-am/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I'll leave here with my head held high and with confidence that history will judge my time here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-ll-leave-here-with-my-head-held-high-and-with-confidence-that/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [On a personal level, I've seen a lot in my time as attorney general, but few things have affected me as greatly as my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/on-a-personal-level-i-ve-seen-a-lot-in-my-time-as-attorney-general/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [It is the thing that keeps me up at night - the notion that you have individuals in the United States who are looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/it-is-the-thing-that-keeps-me-up-at-night-the-notion-that-you-have/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Guantanamo is a chief recruiting tool for al-Qaida. It has put a wedge between the United States and at least some of its allies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/guantanamo-is-a-chief-recruiting-tool-for-al-qaida-it-has-put-a-wedge/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I don't have any intention of resigning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-don-t-have-any-intention-of-resigning/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Michael Brown's tragic death has revealed a deep distrust between some in the Ferguson community and its police force. It also developed a need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/michael-brown-s-tragic-death-has-revealed-a-deep-distrust-between/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) [Explore all 91 Eric Holder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) ## More Branches quotes > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In our system of government, the judicial and legislative branches have different roles. Judges are not politicians. Judges must decide cases, not champion causes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/in-our-system-of-government-the-judicial-and-legislative-branches/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [The sugar maple is remarkable for its clean ankle. The groves of these trees looked like vast forest sheds, their branches stoppingshort at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-sugar-maple-is-remarkable-for-its-clean-ankle-the-groves-of-these/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Where is the subject that does not branch out into infinity? For every grain of sand is a mystery; so is every daisy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mountford/where-is-the-subject-that-does-not-branch-out-into-infinity-for-every/) [William Mountford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mountford/) > [You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/you-know-how-this-is-if-i-look-at-the-crystal-moon-at-the-red-branch/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [Money is made at Christmas out of holly and mistletoe, but who save the vendors would greatly care if no green branch were procurable?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gissing/money-is-made-at-christmas-out-of-holly-and-mistletoe-but-who-save/) [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) > [“The branches do not support the root. But the root supports the branches.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-branches-do-not-support-the-root-but-the-root-supports-the/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [We're the only branch of government that explains itself in writing every time itmakes a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that-explains-itself-in-writing/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [Certainly in the United States, you have a constituency in the form of the weapons laboratories, and you also have the branches of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/certainly-in-the-united-states-you-have-a-constituency-in-the-form-of/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [The impossibility of separating the nomenclature of a science from the science itself, is owing to this, that every branch of physical science must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-lavoisier/the-impossibility-of-separating-the-nomenclature-of-a-science-from/) [Antoine Lavoisier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-lavoisier/) > [ \[The judiciary is\] the least dangerous branch of our government. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-bickel/the-judiciary-is-the-least-dangerous-branch-of-our-government/) Alexander Bickel > [ For some unknown reason, this \[antiabortion\] branch of Christianity cherishes the unborn and hates the living person. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vine-deloria-jr/for-some-unknown-reason-this-antiabortion-branch-of-christianity/) [Vine Deloria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vine-deloria-jr/) > [ \[W\]ar is a question, under our constitution, not of Executive, but of Legislative cognizance. It belongs to Congress to say whether the Nation shall… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/w-ar-is-a-question-under-our-constitution-not-of-executive-but-of/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [The sky is now indelible ink, The branches reft asunder; But you and I we do not shrink; We love the lovely thunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/the-sky-is-now-indelible-ink-the-branches-reft-asunder-but-you-and-i/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [I have always wanted to branch off and become a fashion guru. I want to share my artistic views with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/i-have-always-wanted-to-branch-off-and-become-a-fashion-guru-i-want/) [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) Browse all 1,228 Branches quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To those in the executive branch who say ‘just trust us’ when it comes to secret and warrantless surveillance of domestic communications, I say, ‘Remember your history.’", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Holder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/to-those-in-the-executive-branch-who-say-just-trust-us-when-it-comes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Branches" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/to-those-in-the-executive-branch-who-say-just-trust-us-when-it-comes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/eric-holder-7429_branches_to-those-in-the-executive-branch-who-say_955510.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/eric-holder-7429_branches_to-those-in-the-executive-branch-who-say_955510.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/eric-holder-7429_branches_to-those-in-the-executive-branch-who-say_955510.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To those in the executive branch who say ‘just trust us’ when it comes to secret and warrantless…” — Eric Holder", "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": "Eric Holder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To those in the executive branch...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/to-those-in-the-executive-branch-who-say-just-trust-us-when-it-comes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/to-those-in-the-executive-branch-who-say-just-trust-us-when-it-comes/#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 } } ] } ```