---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From secrecy and deception in high…"
description: "\"From secrecy and deception in high places; come home, America. From military spending so wasteful that it weakens our nation; come home, America. From ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/george-mcgovern-3955_aging_from-secrecy-and-deception-in-high-place_1192526.png"
---

#  From secrecy and deception in high places; come home…

![“From secrecy and deception in high places; come home, America. From military spending so wasteful that it weakens our nation; come home, America. From the entrenchment of special privileges in tax favoritism; from the waste of idle lands to the joy of useful labor; from the prejudice based on race…” quote by George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/george-mcgovern-3955_aging_from-secrecy-and-deception-in-high-place_1192526.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/george-mcgovern-3955_aging_from-secrecy-and-deception-in-high-place_1192526.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23e/george-mcgovern-3955_aging_from-secrecy-and-deception-in-high-place_1192526.png)

> “From secrecy and deception in high places; come home, America. From military spending so wasteful that it weakens our nation; come home, America. From the entrenchment of special privileges in tax favoritism; from the waste of idle lands to the joy of useful labor; from the prejudice based on race and sex; from the loneliness of the aging poor and the despair of the neglected sick - come home, America.”

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

## About This Quote

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

A call for America to return to honest governance, responsible spending, equal opportunity, and caring for the vulnerable.

**In simple terms:** America should refocus on integrity, fairness, and compassion.

Key Takeaway

Demand accountability and inclusive policies.

Themes

politics social justice economics healthcare elder care

Mood

concerned hopeful

Type

political activist inspirational

When to use this quote

- voting
- community activism
- policy advocacy
- charitable volunteering
- public health initiatives

Key Concepts

democratic reform tax equity military budgeting social equity public welfare

Questions to Reflect On

- How can citizens influence systemic change?
- What policies best address both fiscal waste and social neglect?

A Different Perspective

Implementation may face entrenched interests and political polarization.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Entrenchment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-entrenchment-3543968/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Cold war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-war/) [Come home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-home/) [Coming home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming-home/) [Deception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deception/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Favoritism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favoritism/) [High places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-places/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Home America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-america-413419/) [Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idle/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Military spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-spending/) [Nation Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-come-984981/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Neglected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglected/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Secrecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sick/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spending/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Weakens Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakens-nation-2833695/)

## Related quotes

> [From secrecy and deception in high places, come home, America. From military spending so wasteful that it weakens our nation, come home, America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/from-secrecy-and-deception-in-high-places-come-home-america-from-2/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [Our nation must come together to unite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/our-nation-must-come-together-to-unite/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [Our nation must come together as only Americans can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/our-nation-must-come-together-as-only-americans-can/)

[Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/)

> [Oh, it's home again and home again, America for me! I want a ship that's westward bound to plough the rolling sea To the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/oh-it-s-home-again-and-home-again-america-for-me-i-want-a-ship-that-s/)

[Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/)

> [A nation can be no stronger abroad than she is at home. Only an America which practices what it preaches about equal rights and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/a-nation-can-be-no-stronger-abroad-than-she-is-at-home-only-an/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [Owning your own home is America's unique recipe for avoiding revolution and promoting pseudo-equality at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/owning-your-own-home-is-america-s-unique-recipe-for-avoiding-2/)

[Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/)

> [“America for Me 'Tis fine to see the Old World and travel up and down Among the famous palaces and cities of renown, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/america-for-me-tis-fine-to-see-the-old-world-and-travel-up-and-down/)

[Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/)

> [The men who could not fight, in a war that didn't seem right. You let them come home, America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/the-men-who-could-not-fight-in-a-war-that-didn-t-seem-right-you-let/)

[Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/)

> [“In fact, the reason I felt immediately at home in America is precisely because American culture encourages the process of failure, unlike the cultures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/in-fact-the-reason-i-felt-immediately-at-home-in-america-is-precisely/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

> [I've always felt at home in America. Obviously, there's down sides to everywhere - the politics of America can be hard to take but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/i-ve-always-felt-at-home-in-america-obviously-there-s-down-sides-to/)

[KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/)

> [When I started touring and coming to San Francisco, especially, I felt the most at home in America, other than in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/when-i-started-touring-and-coming-to-san-francisco-especially-i-felt/)

[Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/)

> [We are a country where people of all backgrounds, all nations of origin, all languages, all religions, all races, can make a home. America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-are-a-country-where-people-of-all-backgrounds-all-nations-of/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [There was great leadership in this country at the time of World War II. There was also unrelenting resolve at home, in America's factories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-feller/there-was-great-leadership-in-this-country-at-the-time-of-world-war/)

[Bob Feller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-feller/)

> [“Mr Abe went on to criticise China's annual double-digit increase in military spending, saying it was a major source of instability in the region.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mr-abe-went-on-to-criticise-china-s-annual-double-digit-increase-in/)

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

> [ The only way you can do that \[decrease taxes, balance the budget, and increase military spending\] is with mirrors… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-anderson/the-only-way-you-can-do-that-decrease-taxes-balance-the-budget-and/)

[John B. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-anderson/)

## More by George McGovern

> [Every Senator in this Chamber is partly responsible for sending 50,000 young Americans to an early grave. This Chamber reeks of blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/every-senator-in-this-chamber-is-partly-responsible-for-sending-50/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I always thought of myself as a moderate liberal, a fighter for peace and justice. I never thought of myself as being all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-moderate-liberal-a-fighter-for-peace/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I was tired. I hadn't slept eight hours in two, three years. I lived on four, five hours of sleep. You can do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-was-tired-i-hadn-t-slept-eight-hours-in-two-three-years-i-lived-on/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I did frequently refer to my war record in World War II, but not in any flamboyant way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-did-frequently-refer-to-my-war-record-in-world-war-ii-but-not-in/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [It's a tough thing, to know what to do about a war that deep in your gut you feel is wrong and yet watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/it-s-a-tough-thing-to-know-what-to-do-about-a-war-that-deep-in-your/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I'm what a normal, healthy, ideal American should be like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-m-what-a-normal-healthy-ideal-american-should-be-like/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-m-fed-up-to-the-ears-with-old-men-dreaming-up-wars-for-young-men-to/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I always thought of myself as a good old South Dakota boy who grew up here on the prairie,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-good-old-south-dakota-boy-who-grew-up/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I always thought of myself as a good old South Dakota boy who grew up here on the prairie. My dad was a Methodist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-good-old-south-dakota-boy-who-grew-up-2/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [Above all, being a Democrat means having compassion for others. ... It means standing up for people who have been kept down ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/above-all-being-a-democrat-means-having-compassion-for-others-it/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I am fed up with a system which busts the pot smoker and lets the big dope racketeer go free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-am-fed-up-with-a-system-which-busts-the-pot-smoker-and-lets-the-big/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [To those who charge that liberalism has been tried and found wanting, I answer that the failure is not in the idea, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/to-those-who-charge-that-liberalism-has-been-tried-and-found-wanting/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [When I was a youngster growing up in South Dakota, we never referred to the national debt, it was always referred to as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/when-i-was-a-youngster-growing-up-in-south-dakota-we-never-referred/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [ I still love to go back to Mitchell \[his home town\] and wander up and down those streets. It just kind of reassures me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-still-love-to-go-back-to-mitchell-his-home-town-and-wander-up-and/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [Truth is a habit of integrity, not a strategy of politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/truth-is-a-habit-of-integrity-not-a-strategy-of-politics/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

[Explore all 118 George McGovern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

## More Aging quotes

> [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/)

[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/)

> [In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/in-the-past-40-years-the-united-states-lost-more-than-a-million/)

[Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/)

> [We'll never be as young as we are tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-ll-never-be-as-young-as-we-are-tonight/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/)

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

> [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [So often do you see collegians enter life with high resolve and lofty purpose and then watch them shrink and shrink to sordid, selfish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/so-often-do-you-see-collegians-enter-life-with-high-resolve-and-lofty/)

[W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/)

> [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/)

[Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/)

> [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/)

[Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/)

> [“You could see the signs of female aging as diseased, especially if you had a vested interest in making women too see them your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/you-could-see-the-signs-of-female-aging-as-diseased-especially-if-you/)

[Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/)

> [“It takes maturity to be able to laugh like a child again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moffat-machingura/it-takes-maturity-to-be-able-to-laugh-like-a-child-again/)

[Moffat Machingura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moffat-machingura/)

> [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/)

[Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/)

> [Growing old-it's not nice, but it's interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/growing-old-it-s-not-nice-but-it-s-interesting/)

[August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/)

> [Anything is possible in the life of a man if he lives long enough. Even maturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howell-raines/anything-is-possible-in-the-life-of-a-man-if-he-lives-long-enough/)

[Howell Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howell-raines/)

> [I just want to be Patty McCormack. I want to spend every year aging the way she has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-just-want-to-be-patty-mccormack-i-want-to-spend-every-year-aging/)

[Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/)

> [Maturity is reached the day we don't need to be lied to about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-yerby/maturity-is-reached-the-day-we-don-t-need-to-be-lied-to-about-anything/)

[Frank Yerby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-yerby/)

[Browse all 2,792 Aging quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/)

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