--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would not put C.I.A. officers at risk…" description: "\"I would not put C.I.A. officers at risk by asking them to undertake risky, controversial activity again.\" — Gina Haspel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/gina-haspel-12527_activity_i-would-not-put-c-i-a-officers-at-risk-b_1776020.jpg" --- # I would not put C.I.A. officers at risk by asking them to… ![“I would not put C.I.A. officers at risk by asking them to undertake risky, controversial activity again.” quote by Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/gina-haspel-12527_activity_i-would-not-put-c-i-a-officers-at-risk-b_1776020.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/gina-haspel-12527_activity_i-would-not-put-c-i-a-officers-at-risk-b_1776020.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/gina-haspel-12527_activity_i-would-not-put-c-i-a-officers-at-risk-b_1776020.jpg) > “I would not put C.I.A. officers at risk by asking them to undertake risky, controversial activity again.” [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Risky missions should not be assigned to officers already exposed to danger. **In simple terms:** Avoid overburdening agents. Key Takeaway Protect personnel from unnecessary risk. Themes risk management leadership ethics Mood cautious responsible Type strategic ethical When to use this quote - covert operations - field assignments - agency policy Key Concepts operational safety mission planning Questions to Reflect On - What criteria determine acceptable risk? - How can agencies support agents after high‑risk missions? A Different Perspective Balancing mission needs with safety is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/again/) [Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) [Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/) [Controversial Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial-activity-1821018/) [Officers Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/officers-risk-1821017/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risky Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risky-controversial-1821019/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Undertake Risky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undertake-risky-1821020/) ## Related quotes > [Important decisions are risky. They should be controversial. Acclamation means that nobody has done the homework.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/important-decisions-are-risky-they-should-be-controversial/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [There are usually half a dozen right answers to what needs to be done. Yet, unless a person makes the risky and controversial choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/there-are-usually-half-a-dozen-right-answers-to-what-needs-to-be-done/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) [S.F. Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-f-chandler/) > [ I curated this show \[Shanghai Biennale \], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-curated-this-show-shanghai-biennale-i-was-by-no-means-trying-to/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [I get called 'controversial' all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-get-called-controversial-all-the-time/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [I was very willing to take on controversial roles that people didn't really want to look at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-was-very-willing-to-take-on-controversial-roles-that-people-didn-t/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [I think if I'm controversial it's not because I set out to be. It's because I've never felt comfortable being part of someone else's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-think-if-i-m-controversial-it-s-not-because-i-set-out-to-be-it-s/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [“My personal analysis is that the media have made the AI-safety debate seem more controversial than it really is. After all, fear sells, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/my-personal-analysis-is-that-the-media-have-made-the-ai-safety-debate/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [Those who misrepresent the normal experiences of life, who decry being controversial, who shun risk, are the enemies of the American way of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wriston/those-who-misrepresent-the-normal-experiences-of-life-who-decry-being/) [Henry Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wriston/) > [Here - at this final hour, Harlem has come to bid farewell to one of its brightest hopes - extinguished now, and gone from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ossie-davis/here-at-this-final-hour-harlem-has-come-to-bid-farewell-to-one-of-its/) [Ossie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ossie-davis/) > [If art is singular expression, then by nature, the best art is controversial. But when art stirs debate for reasons besides its artistic integrity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/if-art-is-singular-expression-then-by-nature-the-best-art-is/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [The chief beneficiary of life insurance policies for young, single people is the life insurance agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-smith/the-chief-beneficiary-of-life-insurance-policies-for-young-single/) [Wes Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-smith/) > [For a lot of women, one of the hardest things about leadership is the desire to be liked by everyone. That's often inconsistent with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weddington/for-a-lot-of-women-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-leadership-is-the/) [Sarah Weddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weddington/) > [Ninety-eight percent of the things that come out of my mouth are intended to be harmless or even charming. They're not ever intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-things-that-come-out-of-my-mouth-are/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) ## More by Gina Haspel > [When a very tough, old school leader announced that I was his pick to be Chief of Station in a small but important frontier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/when-a-very-tough-old-school-leader-announced-that-i-was-his-pick-to/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [I was on the front lines in the Cold War, and I was on the front lines in the fight against Al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/i-was-on-the-front-lines-in-the-cold-war-and-i-was-on-the-front-lines/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [First of all, CIA follows the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/first-of-all-cia-follows-the-law/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [CIA has been treated with enormous respect and our expertise is valued for what we bring to the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/cia-has-been-treated-with-enormous-respect-and-our-expertise-is/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [A lot has changed since I first arrived at CIA, but our mission remains as relevant and important as ever. And this is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/a-lot-has-changed-since-i-first-arrived-at-cia-but-our-mission/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [The first boots on the ground in Afghanistan were my colleagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/the-first-boots-on-the-ground-in-afghanistan-were-my-colleagues/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [After years of failure, I do think that President Trump has shown a lot of wisdom in reaching out his hand to the North…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/after-years-of-failure-i-do-think-that-president-trump-has-shown-a/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [My moral compass is strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/my-moral-compass-is-strong/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [I support the higher moral standard that this country has decided to hold itself to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/i-support-the-higher-moral-standard-that-this-country-has-decided-to/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [I think it is important to recall the context of those challenging times immediately following 9/11. For me, I had just returned to Washington…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/i-think-it-is-important-to-recall-the-context-of-those-challenging/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [As I look back on my first year as Director, I am more in awe of the men and women at CIA than ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/as-i-look-back-on-my-first-year-as-director-i-am-more-in-awe-of-the/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [I think it's very important, I think for any leader as you go through a career you have to learn the leadership lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/i-think-it-s-very-important-i-think-for-any-leader-as-you-go-through/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [I stand on the shoulders of heroines who never sought public acclaim but served as inspirations to the generations that came after them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/i-stand-on-the-shoulders-of-heroines-who-never-sought-public-acclaim/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [Intelligence services all over the world, in order to retain their competitive edge, have to adapt or they won't survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/intelligence-services-all-over-the-world-in-order-to-retain-their/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [I recall my first foreign agent meeting was on a dark, moonless night with an agent I'd never met before. When I picked him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/i-recall-my-first-foreign-agent-meeting-was-on-a-dark-moonless-night/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) [Explore all 54 Gina Haspel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would not put C.I.A. officers at risk by asking them to undertake risky, controversial activity again.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gina Haspel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/i-would-not-put-c-i-a-officers-at-risk-by-asking-them-to-undertake/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Activity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/i-would-not-put-c-i-a-officers-at-risk-by-asking-them-to-undertake/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/gina-haspel-12527_activity_i-would-not-put-c-i-a-officers-at-risk-b_1776020.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/gina-haspel-12527_activity_i-would-not-put-c-i-a-officers-at-risk-b_1776020.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c90/gina-haspel-12527_activity_i-would-not-put-c-i-a-officers-at-risk-b_1776020.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would not put C.I.A. officers at risk by asking them to undertake risky, controversial activity again.” — Gina Haspel", "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": "Gina Haspel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I would not put C.I.A. officers...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/i-would-not-put-c-i-a-officers-at-risk-by-asking-them-to-undertake/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/i-would-not-put-c-i-a-officers-at-risk-by-asking-them-to-undertake/#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 } } ] } ```