--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Politicians often claim secrecy is…" description: "\"Politicians often claim secrecy is necessary for good governance or national security.\" — Heather Brooke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/heather-brooke-9035_claim_politicians-often-claim-secrecy-is-neces_2141706.jpg" --- # Politicians often claim secrecy is necessary for good… ![“Politicians often claim secrecy is necessary for good governance or national security.” quote by Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/heather-brooke-9035_claim_politicians-often-claim-secrecy-is-neces_2141706.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/heather-brooke-9035_claim_politicians-often-claim-secrecy-is-neces_2141706.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/heather-brooke-9035_claim_politicians-often-claim-secrecy-is-neces_2141706.jpg) > “Politicians often claim secrecy is necessary for good governance or national security.” [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Secrecy is often justified as essential for governance, but it can conceal misconduct and erode public trust. **In simple terms:** Secrecy is used to hide problems. Key Takeaway Demand openness and accountability. Themes politics ethics governance Mood critical concerned Type analytical cautionary When to use this quote - policy making - national security debates - public inquiries - media investigations Key Concepts transparency accountability power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is secrecy justified? - How can transparency be balanced with security? A Different Perspective Some secrets protect genuine security needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Good governance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-governance/) [Governance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governance/) [National security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-security/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Secrecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) ## Related quotes > [Normally, when politicians talk about 'cutting the budget,' they really mean reducing the amount of increase. Actual spending goes up while the politicians claim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/normally-when-politicians-talk-about-cutting-the-budget-they-really/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [Professional politicians often claim they are not professional politicians. Trump genuinely isn't one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-weisberg/professional-politicians-often-claim-they-are-not-professional/) [Jacob Weisberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-weisberg/) > [In 'The Transparent Society,' I am actually no radical. I accept that some secrecy is necessary and avow that human beings have an intrinsic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/in-the-transparent-society-i-am-actually-no-radical-i-accept-that/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [The tendency for politicians to claim credit for favorable news is as natural as flatulence in cows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-samuelson/the-tendency-for-politicians-to-claim-credit-for-favorable-news-is-as/) [Robert J. Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-samuelson/) > [“Ever notice how the same politicians who claim to be against trickle-down economics have no problem bailing out banks and other politically connected businesses?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-m-mcgroarty/ever-notice-how-the-same-politicians-who-claim-to-be-against-trickle/) [Colin M. McGroarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-m-mcgroarty/) > [Strong government doesn't mean simply military power or an efficient intelligence apparatus. Instead, it should mean effective, fair administration - in other words, 'good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghuram-rajan/strong-government-doesn-t-mean-simply-military-power-or-an-efficient/) [Raghuram Rajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghuram-rajan/) > [The biggest determinant in our lives is culture, where we are born, what the environment looks like. But the second biggest determinant is probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-berggruen/the-biggest-determinant-in-our-lives-is-culture-where-we-are-born/) [Nicolas Berggruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-berggruen/) > [For achieving good governance political will is necessary. Good governance is a political process. Though role of civil society is critical, without political will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/for-achieving-good-governance-political-will-is-necessary-good/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [During freedom struggle, It were authors and artists who made the Nation stand with their pen, and now their pen can create an environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/during-freedom-struggle-it-were-authors-and-artists-who-made-the/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Aspiring dictators sometimes win elections, and elected leaders sometimes govern badly and threaten their neighbors.History demonstrates that democracy usually follows good governance, not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/aspiring-dictators-sometimes-win-elections-and-elected-leaders/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [Good governance requires working toward common ground. It isn't easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/good-governance-requires-working-toward-common-ground-it-isn-t-easy/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [People power must be combined with good governance to bring about real, deep and lasting change. This combination can achieve almost everything from eliminating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/people-power-must-be-combined-with-good-governance-to-bring-about/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [We also call upon the king to hand over power to the political parties and for the political parties to shoulder their responsibility and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-adam-ereli/we-also-call-upon-the-king-to-hand-over-power-to-the-political/) Joseph Adam Ereli > [Good Governance cannot remain merely a philosophy. Concrete steps have to be taken for realizing its goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/good-governance-cannot-remain-merely-a-philosophy-concrete-steps-have/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Gujarat under Narendra Modi has focused on good governance in the power sector and implemented long-term reforms as opposed to the short-term and anarchic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piyush-goyal/gujarat-under-narendra-modi-has-focused-on-good-governance-in-the/) [Piyush Goyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piyush-goyal/) ## More by Heather Brooke > [Newspapers are not free and they never have been. They can appear to be so, but someone, somewhere is covering the costs whether that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/newspapers-are-not-free-and-they-never-have-been-they-can-appear-to/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [In Britain, it's bred into you, the idea that you can't really change anything, so why bother. When I went to school in America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/in-britain-it-s-bred-into-you-the-idea-that-you-can-t-really-change/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [There's a temptation not to vote at all as a protest, but it's definitely not a protest. In fact, all it does is keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/there-s-a-temptation-not-to-vote-at-all-as-a-protest-but-it-s/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [There are corporate private investigators, companies doing very forensic background checks on people. They buy data, they get their own data... They don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/there-are-corporate-private-investigators-companies-doing-very/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [The hacker community may be small, but it possesses the skills that are driving the global economies of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/the-hacker-community-may-be-small-but-it-possesses-the-skills-that/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [If you don't think there is any value in the work I, or any other serious journalists do, then don't spend your money on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/if-you-don-t-think-there-is-any-value-in-the-work-i-or-any-other/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [I trained as a journalist in America where paying sources is frowned upon. Now I work in the U.K. where there is a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/i-trained-as-a-journalist-in-america-where-paying-sources-is-frowned/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [Democracy isn't just for people in the Middle East, but Britons, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/democracy-isn-t-just-for-people-in-the-middle-east-but-britons-too/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [I like to write books and cause trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/i-like-to-write-books-and-cause-trouble/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [In whose interest is it to hype up the collapse of the Internet from a DDoS attack? Why, the people who provide cyber security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/in-whose-interest-is-it-to-hype-up-the-collapse-of-the-internet-from/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [I pine for a return to the type of old-school journalism and the tough newspapermen and women of the Thirties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/i-pine-for-a-return-to-the-type-of-old-school-journalism-and-the/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [The movement towards radical transparency and accountability has been gaining steam for several decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/the-movement-towards-radical-transparency-and-accountability-has-been/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [Traditional publishers require an author to submit a manuscript six months in advance, and if pressed, no later than two or three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/traditional-publishers-require-an-author-to-submit-a-manuscript-six/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [I've always worked on the fringe of the British press establishment, carving out this niche for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/i-ve-always-worked-on-the-fringe-of-the-british-press-establishment/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [A generation of people are being radicalised by the criminalisation of information sharing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/a-generation-of-people-are-being-radicalised-by-the-criminalisation/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) [Explore all 75 Heather Brooke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) ## More Claim quotes > [I don't claim 2 be perfect, but whatever I do is more then it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-claim-2-be-perfect-but-whatever-i-do-is-more-then-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That FRIEND who claim they do anything for you. but yet talk behind your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kushsoulja/that-friend-who-claim-they-do-anything-for-you-but-yet-talk-behind/) KushSoulja > [Extremist perspectives win sympathy and recruits because they offer narratives that claim to identify deep injustices and enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-gahr-store/extremist-perspectives-win-sympathy-and-recruits-because-they-offer/) [Jonas Gahr Store](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-gahr-store/) > [If ever my life can be of any use to you, come and claim it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/if-ever-my-life-can-be-of-any-use-to-you-come-and-claim-it/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [The claim of the State Socialists, however, that this right would not be exercised in matters pertaining to the individual in the more intimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/the-claim-of-the-state-socialists-however-that-this-right-would-not/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [I don't claim to be a good woman, but I do claim to be good at being a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne/i-don-t-claim-to-be-a-good-woman-but-i-do-claim-to-be-good-at-being-a/) Suzanne > [“Who among us can claim normalcy, Bishop?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-marusek/who-among-us-can-claim-normalcy-bishop/) [David Marusek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-marusek/) > [You have to name it to claim it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-to-name-it-to-claim-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I personally claim no special insight into Satan's methods, but I have at times been able to identify his influence and his actions in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-personally-claim-no-special-insight-into-satan-s-methods-but-i-have/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [“Their hands clasped between them, he whispered into her ear, "I claim you, too, Aelin Galathynius.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/their-hands-clasped-between-them-he-whispered-into-her-ear-i-claim/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [When you claim to have the truth, as opposed to the truth as you perceive it, then you move us toward a theocratic view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/when-you-claim-to-have-the-truth-as-opposed-to-the-truth-as-you/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [I don't claim to be the best boxer in the world. What I claim to do is give 100% when I get in that ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bellew/i-don-t-claim-to-be-the-best-boxer-in-the-world-what-i-claim-to-do-is/) [Tony Bellew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bellew/) > [“What did it take to claim a person, really? One perfect night? A few weeks of phone calls, hundreds of texts, all of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/what-did-it-take-to-claim-a-person-really-one-perfect-night-a-few/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [No One Else Is Responsible For You. You Are In Full Control Of Your Life So Long As You Claim It And Own It...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/no-one-else-is-responsible-for-you-you-are-in-full-control-of-your/) Pacifiersucker Browse all 447 Claim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Politicians often claim secrecy is necessary for good governance or national security.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Heather Brooke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/politicians-often-claim-secrecy-is-necessary-for-good-governance-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Claim" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/politicians-often-claim-secrecy-is-necessary-for-good-governance-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/heather-brooke-9035_claim_politicians-often-claim-secrecy-is-neces_2141706.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/heather-brooke-9035_claim_politicians-often-claim-secrecy-is-neces_2141706.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/heather-brooke-9035_claim_politicians-often-claim-secrecy-is-neces_2141706.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Politicians often claim secrecy is necessary for good governance or national security.” — Heather Brooke", "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": "Heather Brooke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Politicians often claim secrecy is necessary...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/politicians-often-claim-secrecy-is-necessary-for-good-governance-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/politicians-often-claim-secrecy-is-necessary-for-good-governance-or/#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 } } ] } ```