--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never would have agreed to the…" description: "\"I never would have agreed to the formulation of the Central Intelligence Agency back in forty-seven, if I had known it would become the American Gestap..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/harry-s-truman-898_agency_i-never-would-have-agreed-to-the-formula_1342408.jpg" --- # I never would have agreed to the formulation of the… ![“I never would have agreed to the formulation of the Central Intelligence Agency back in forty-seven, if I had known it would become the American Gestapo.” quote by Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/harry-s-truman-898_agency_i-never-would-have-agreed-to-the-formula_1342408.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/harry-s-truman-898_agency_i-never-would-have-agreed-to-the-formula_1342408.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/harry-s-truman-898_agency_i-never-would-have-agreed-to-the-formula_1342408.jpg) > “I never would have agreed to the formulation of the Central Intelligence Agency back in forty-seven, if I had known it would become the American Gestapo.” [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He warned that the CIA could become an oppressive force if its power went unchecked. **In simple terms:** CIA might become oppressive without oversight. Key Takeaway Demand transparency and accountability in intelligence agencies. Themes politics government civil liberties power dynamics Mood cautionary historical Type political thought‑provoking When to use this quote - policy making - civil rights advocacy - academic research - media analysis Key Concepts agency oversight democratic safeguards historical hindsight Questions to Reflect On - What checks prevent agency abuse? - How to balance security and freedom? A Different Perspective Security concerns sometimes justify secrecy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) ## Related quotes > [“The truth was, neither the Central Intelligence Agency nor any of the other official and unofficial U.S. intelligence organizations have ever been some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/the-truth-was-neither-the-central-intelligence-agency-nor-any-of-the/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [When I came to the CIA in the mid-'90s, our graduating class of case officers was unbelievably low. Now, after years of rebuilding, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-tenet/when-i-came-to-the-cia-in-the-mid-90s-our-graduating-class-of-case/) [George Tenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-tenet/) > [This also turned out to be negative, so there is no material in the Central Intelligence Agency, either in the records or in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-also-turned-out-to-be-negative-so-there-is-no-material-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-colby/the-central-intelligence-agency-owns-everyone-of-any-significance-in/) [William Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-colby/) > [It is very important that the director of the Central Intelligence Agency adhere to the same classification guidelines that all employees must adhere to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/it-is-very-important-that-the-director-of-the-central-intelligence/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [I had been involved in U.S. intelligence in Berlin, Germany, while in the military and had worked with a contact with the Central Intelligence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/i-had-been-involved-in-u-s-intelligence-in-berlin-germany-while-in/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [With respect to the outlines of what's in the Army Field Manual, there's no doubt in my mind about the limitations it places not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/with-respect-to-the-outlines-of-what-s-in-the-army-field-manual-there/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [“Central Intelligence cutting Meo opium fields! China Lobby copping poppies in Burma! How long this Addict government support our oil-burner matter-habit”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/central-intelligence-cutting-meo-opium-fields-china-lobby-copping/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [I have been a systems engineer, systems administrator, a senior adviser for the Central Intelligence Agency, a solutions consultant and a telecommunications information systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-have-been-a-systems-engineer-systems-administrator-a-senior-adviser/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [This is systems security for the Central Intelligence Agency. 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Beryl saw it as the best organized church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/the-agency-was-the-one-subject-in-his-life-that-could-never-be/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When asked if I miss being in government, I usually try to lighten the moment by responding that I awake most days, read the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayden/when-asked-if-i-miss-being-in-government-i-usually-try-to-lighten-the/) [Michael Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayden/) > [George Tenet has been the director of central intelligence since 1997, time enough to have changed the Agency's culture. He has failed. He should go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/george-tenet-has-been-the-director-of-central-intelligence-since-1997/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) ## More by Harry S. 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