--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the national security is involved…" description: "\"If the national security is involved, anything goes. There are no rules. There are people so lacking in roots about what is properand what is improper ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/helen-gahagan-douglas-23620_anything-goes_if-the-national-security-is-involved-any_2369973.png" --- # If the national security is involved, anything goes. There… ![“If the national security is involved, anything goes. There are no rules. There are people so lacking in roots about what is properand what is improper that they don't know there's anything wrong in breaking into the headquarters of the opposition party.” quote by Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/helen-gahagan-douglas-23620_anything-goes_if-the-national-security-is-involved-any_2369973.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/helen-gahagan-douglas-23620_anything-goes_if-the-national-security-is-involved-any_2369973.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/273/helen-gahagan-douglas-23620_anything-goes_if-the-national-security-is-involved-any_2369973.png) > “If the national security is involved, anything goes. There are no rules. There are people so lacking in roots about what is properand what is improper that they don't know there's anything wrong in breaking into the headquarters of the opposition party.” [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When national security is invoked, rules are ignored, and people act without moral grounding, even invading opposition headquarters. **In simple terms:** Security claims can justify unethical actions. Key Takeaway Demand accountability in security matters. Themes ethics politics power abuse Mood serious concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - government policy - journalism - activism Key Concepts authoritarianism moral relativism Questions to Reflect On - How should societies balance security and ethics? - What safeguards prevent overreach? A Different Perspective Security concerns can be exploited for abuse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anything goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything-goes/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Headquarters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/headquarters/) [Headquarters Opposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/headquarters-opposition-5833977/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lacking/) [National security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-security/) [Opposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition/) [Opposition parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition-parties/) [Opposition Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition-party-808404/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Security Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security-involved-5629023/) ## Related quotes > [Moving from an opposition party to a governing party comes with growing pains. And, well, we're feeling those growing pains today. Doing big things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/moving-from-an-opposition-party-to-a-governing-party-comes-with/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [The media here is the opposition party. They don't understand this country. They still do not understand why Donald Trump is the president of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-media-here-is-the-opposition-party-they-don-t-understand-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We will also require that follow-up reviews take place on a regular basis determined by the sensitive nature of the security involved. The review…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-also-require-that-follow-up-reviews-take-place-on-a-regular/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The media has zero integrity, zero intelligence, and no hard work. You're the opposition party. Not the Democratic Party. You're the opposition party. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/the-media-has-zero-integrity-zero-intelligence-and-no-hard-work-you/) [Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/) > [If you're an opposition party, you are actively using the power you have to oppose the ideas of the other party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/if-you-re-an-opposition-party-you-are-actively-using-the-power-you/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [There is no opposition party. And the party that is in power is falling apart. Doesn't that kind of mean the country's falling apart?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/there-is-no-opposition-party-and-the-party-that-is-in-power-is/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [I was more in opposition within my own party, and for a long while, I was part of the opposition. I had - Scoop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-patrick-moynihan/i-was-more-in-opposition-within-my-own-party-and-for-a-long-while-i/) [Daniel Patrick Moynihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-patrick-moynihan/) > [“I belong to the opposition party, which is called life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-belong-to-the-opposition-party-which-is-called-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is undeniably the duty of the opposition party to field a credible slate of candidates for the nation's highest office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-carville/it-is-undeniably-the-duty-of-the-opposition-party-to-field-a-credible/) [James Carville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-carville/) > [Not every opposition party believes the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pritam-singh/not-every-opposition-party-believes-the-same-thing/) [Pritam Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pritam-singh/) > [I prefer the Greens to remain an opposition party that's able to hold the government to account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/i-prefer-the-greens-to-remain-an-opposition-party-that-s-able-to-hold/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [We want to show Singaporeans that if you vote in an opposition party, it doesn't mean your town is going to descend into chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pritam-singh/we-want-to-show-singaporeans-that-if-you-vote-in-an-opposition-party/) [Pritam Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pritam-singh/) > [Democracy demands an opposition party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-manski/democracy-demands-an-opposition-party/) [Ben Manski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-manski/) > [Hikes in the debt ceiling - without any political demands from the opposition party - had been routine until President Obama took office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/hikes-in-the-debt-ceiling-without-any-political-demands-from-the/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [Opposition parties which have no concern for the welfare of Tamil Nadu or its people have been carrying out a campaign of lies. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-jayalalithaa/opposition-parties-which-have-no-concern-for-the-welfare-of-tamil/) [J. Jayalalithaa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-jayalalithaa/) ## More by Helen Gahagan Douglas > [You can't prove you're an American by waving Old Glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/you-can-t-prove-you-re-an-american-by-waving-old-glory/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [Character isn't inherited. One builds it daily by how one thinks and acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/character-isn-t-inherited-one-builds-it-daily-by-how-one-thinks-and/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [The ... irrational fear of communism is being deliberately used in many quarters to blind us to our real problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/the-irrational-fear-of-communism-is-being-deliberately-used-in-many/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [We cannot legislate equality but we can legislate ... equal opportunity for all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/we-cannot-legislate-equality-but-we-can-legislate-equal-opportunity/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [The discrepancy between American ideals and American practice - between our aims and what we actually do - creates a moral dry rot which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/the-discrepancy-between-american-ideals-and-american-practice-between/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [The discrepancy between American ideals and American practice creates a dry rot which eats away at the foundations of our democratic faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/the-discrepancy-between-american-ideals-and-american-practice-creates/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [men never would share power with women willingly. If we wanted it, we would have to take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/men-never-would-share-power-with-women-willingly-if-we-wanted-it-we/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [Such pip-squeaks as Nixon and McCarthy are trying to get us so frightened of Communism that we'll be afraid to turn out the lights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/such-pip-squeaks-as-nixon-and-mccarthy-are-trying-to-get-us-so/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [Character isn't inherited. One builds it daily by the way one thinks and acts, thought by thought, action by action. If one lets fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/character-isn-t-inherited-one-builds-it-daily-by-the-way-one-thinks/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [Character isn't inherited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/character-isn-t-inherited/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [Politicians aren't any more wicked than other citizens but the situation in which they are placed warps their judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/politicians-aren-t-any-more-wicked-than-other-citizens-but-the/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [You cannot barter security for freedom, or freedom for security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/you-cannot-barter-security-for-freedom-or-freedom-for-security/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [A vigorous democracy a democracy in which there are freedom from want, freedom from fear, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech would never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/a-vigorous-democracy-a-democracy-in-which-there-are-freedom-from-want/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [If one lets fear or hate or anger take possession of the mind, they become self-forged chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/if-one-lets-fear-or-hate-or-anger-take-possession-of-the-mind-they/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [Nothing can be controlled by one country today; nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/nothing-can-be-controlled-by-one-country-today-nothing/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) [Explore all 25 Helen Gahagan Douglas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) ## More Anything goes quotes > [Every woman's innate ability to let anything go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-macfarlane/every-woman-s-innate-ability-to-let-anything-go/) [Seth MacFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-macfarlane/) > [There aren't any looks or customs I wish would come back. Today almost anything goes. Culture constantly devours the past so there's not much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graydon-carter/there-aren-t-any-looks-or-customs-i-wish-would-come-back-today-almost/) [Graydon Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graydon-carter/) > [We are a culture that relies on technology over community, a society in which spoken and written words are cheap, easy to come by,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/we-are-a-culture-that-relies-on-technology-over-community-a-society/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [If you want the answer to anything, go sit in Nature for awhile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-you-want-the-answer-to-anything-go-sit-in-nature-for-awhile/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Because the problems are objective features of the human situation - social animals without the capacities for making social life come easily - ethics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/because-the-problems-are-objective-features-of-the-human-situation/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [The only principle that does not inhibit progress is: anything goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-principle-that-does-not-inhibit-progress-is-anything-goes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not very much an open book, I do really express myself only through my music and when I'm in that safe environment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-henderson/i-m-not-very-much-an-open-book-i-do-really-express-myself-only/) [Ella Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-henderson/) > [There are a lot of parallels between doing a sequel and doing low budget movies, which is they give creative parameters. As a creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-blum/there-are-a-lot-of-parallels-between-doing-a-sequel-and-doing-low/) [Jason Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-blum/) > [I think it's one of those things about live performance - anything goes, anything can happen, and you have to just be ready and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/i-think-it-s-one-of-those-things-about-live-performance-anything-goes/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [Public lives are lived out on the job and in the marketplace, where certain rules, conventions, laws, and social customs keep most of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/public-lives-are-lived-out-on-the-job-and-in-the-marketplace-where/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [In the world of the imagination, anything goes that's imaginatively possible, but nothing really happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/in-the-world-of-the-imagination-anything-goes-that-s-imaginatively/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [So now the floodgates are open to the delight of pure form, whatever its origin. Anything goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-johnson/so-now-the-floodgates-are-open-to-the-delight-of-pure-form-whatever/) [Philip Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-johnson/) > [What was wrong with train toilet doors that just locked, instead of this multiple choice system? If anything goes wrong, you'll be sitting there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-boyle/what-was-wrong-with-train-toilet-doors-that-just-locked-instead-of/) [Frankie Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-boyle/) > [If a window is broken and left unrepaired, people walking by will conclude that no one cares and no one is in charge. Soon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/if-a-window-is-broken-and-left-unrepaired-people-walking-by-will/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I believe that you should put the right people around you, people that will not let anything go wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmelo-anthony/i-believe-that-you-should-put-the-right-people-around-you-people-that/) [Carmelo Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmelo-anthony/) [Browse all 69 Anything goes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything-goes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the national security is involved, anything goes. There are no rules. 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