--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Covert action is by definition outside…" description: "\"“Covert action is by definition outside the ambit of democracy.”\" — Hodding Carter III" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/hodding-carter-iii-71198_covert_covert-action-is-by-definition-outside-t_590256.jpg" --- # Covert action is by definition outside the ambit of… ![“Covert action is by definition outside the ambit of democracy.” quote by Hodding Carter III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/hodding-carter-iii-71198_covert_covert-action-is-by-definition-outside-t_590256.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/hodding-carter-iii-71198_covert_covert-action-is-by-definition-outside-t_590256.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/hodding-carter-iii-71198_covert_covert-action-is-by-definition-outside-t_590256.jpg) > ““Covert action is by definition outside the ambit of democracy.”” [Hodding Carter III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hodding-carter-iii/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Covert actions operate outside democratic oversight, undermining accountability. **In simple terms:** Secret actions bypass democracy. Key Takeaway Demand transparency for covert operations. Themes democracy accountability government secrecy Mood skeptical concerned Type political critical When to use this quote - policy making - journalism - civil society - legal oversight Key Concepts political science ethics security Questions to Reflect On - How can societies monitor covert actions? - What safeguards protect democratic integrity? A Different Perspective Democracy may still be compromised by hidden agendas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action Definition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-definition-4832657/) [Ambit Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambit-democracy-4832655/) [Covert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covert/) [Covert Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covert-action-3280578/) [Definition Outside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition-outside-4832656/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ## Related quotes > [Covert action should not be confused with missionary work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/covert-action-should-not-be-confused-with-missionary-work/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wouldn't even know - and I spent three years in the CIA - I wouldn't even know how you'd start a covert action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-carlucci/i-wouldn-t-even-know-and-i-spent-three-years-in-the-cia-i-wouldn-t/) [Frank Carlucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-carlucci/) > [My literal responsibility as director of the CIA with regard to covert action was to inform the Congress - not to seek their approval;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayden/my-literal-responsibility-as-director-of-the-cia-with-regard-to/) [Michael Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayden/) > [Every responsible chief in the CIA knows that the more covert the action, the greater the need for a clear policy and a defined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-drumheller/every-responsible-chief-in-the-cia-knows-that-the-more-covert-the/) [Tyler Drumheller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-drumheller/) > [We operate under the law. Covert action authorities are communicated in a memorandum of notification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/we-operate-under-the-law-covert-action-authorities-are-communicated/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) > [ To give \[the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba\] even covert support is on a par with the hypocrisy and cynicism for which the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/to-give-the-bay-of-pigs-invasion-of-cuba-even-covert-support-is-on-a/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [We care not how many see us in choler, when we rave and bluster, and make as much noise and bustle as we can;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/we-care-not-how-many-see-us-in-choler-when-we-rave-and-bluster-and/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [“Hidden in dreams are arts that haven’t been crafted, and songs that haven’t been chanted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/hidden-in-dreams-are-arts-that-haven-t-been-crafted-and-songs-that/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [No one hid their interest when I walked into the room. I'm not sure if it was the news about Boo or my general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/no-one-hid-their-interest-when-i-walked-into-the-room-i-m-not-sure-if/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [I think it's something that the citizenry needs to be vigilant about - participating in democracy, and that includes issues like what's going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/i-think-it-s-something-that-the-citizenry-needs-to-be-vigilant-about/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [When two men of science disagree, they do not invoke the secular arm; they wait for further evidence to decide the issue, because, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/when-two-men-of-science-disagree-they-do-not-invoke-the-secular-arm/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Covert Operations Report At approximately 0900 hours on Saturday, October 14, Operative Morgan was given a stern lecture by Agent Townsend, a tracking device…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/covert-operations-report-at-approximately-0900-hours-on-saturday/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“Dr. Stern’s explanation of how to identify this kind of covert emotional control and abuse, and how to resist it, is a very important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-stern/dr-stern-s-explanation-of-how-to-identify-this-kind-of-covert/) [Robin Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-stern/) > [ We have the ability to take him \[President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez\] out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/we-have-the-ability-to-take-him-president-of-venezuela-hugo-chavez/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [I think we're probably only about halfway through the number of revelations. I'm pretty certain there will be quite detailed stuff on other uses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-a-watson/i-think-we-re-probably-only-about-halfway-through-the-number-of/) [Tom A. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-a-watson/) ## More by Hodding Carter III > [Virtually all the trends that matter are making a mockery of the industry's ritual incantations about the values and virtues of a free press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hodding-carter-iii/virtually-all-the-trends-that-matter-are-making-a-mockery-of-the/) [Hodding Carter III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hodding-carter-iii/) > [The truth is not that the problem is the newsroom does not understand capitalism. The problem is that the front office does not understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hodding-carter-iii/the-truth-is-not-that-the-problem-is-the-newsroom-does-not-understand/) [Hodding Carter III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hodding-carter-iii/) > [But what we know, we who are either observers of a business we once were in and loved, or are people within it now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hodding-carter-iii/but-what-we-know-we-who-are-either-observers-of-a-business-we-once/) [Hodding Carter III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hodding-carter-iii/) [Explore all 4 Hodding Carter III quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hodding-carter-iii/) ## More Covert quotes > [I think we're probably only about halfway through the number of revelations. I'm pretty certain there will be quite detailed stuff on other uses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-a-watson/i-think-we-re-probably-only-about-halfway-through-the-number-of/) [Tom A. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-a-watson/) > [ We have the ability to take him \[President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez\] out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/we-have-the-ability-to-take-him-president-of-venezuela-hugo-chavez/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [“Dr. Stern’s explanation of how to identify this kind of covert emotional control and abuse, and how to resist it, is a very important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-stern/dr-stern-s-explanation-of-how-to-identify-this-kind-of-covert/) [Robin Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-stern/) > [Covert Operations Report At approximately 0900 hours on Saturday, October 14, Operative Morgan was given a stern lecture by Agent Townsend, a tracking device…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/covert-operations-report-at-approximately-0900-hours-on-saturday/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [When two men of science disagree, they do not invoke the secular arm; they wait for further evidence to decide the issue, because, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/when-two-men-of-science-disagree-they-do-not-invoke-the-secular-arm/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I think it's something that the citizenry needs to be vigilant about - participating in democracy, and that includes issues like what's going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/i-think-it-s-something-that-the-citizenry-needs-to-be-vigilant-about/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [No one hid their interest when I walked into the room. I'm not sure if it was the news about Boo or my general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/no-one-hid-their-interest-when-i-walked-into-the-room-i-m-not-sure-if/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“Hidden in dreams are arts that haven’t been crafted, and songs that haven’t been chanted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/hidden-in-dreams-are-arts-that-haven-t-been-crafted-and-songs-that/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [We care not how many see us in choler, when we rave and bluster, and make as much noise and bustle as we can;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/we-care-not-how-many-see-us-in-choler-when-we-rave-and-bluster-and/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [ To give \[the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba\] even covert support is on a par with the hypocrisy and cynicism for which the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/to-give-the-bay-of-pigs-invasion-of-cuba-even-covert-support-is-on-a/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [“Racist intentions—not policies—became covert after the 1960s.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibram-x-kendi/racist-intentions-not-policies-became-covert-after-the-1960s/) [Ibram X. Kendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibram-x-kendi/) > [Quietly, Macey went through her options. Even though the masked men were asking for cell phones, the gunmen were making so much noise that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/quietly-macey-went-through-her-options-even-though-the-masked-men/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [Decisions concerning covert actions are not often easily reached.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/decisions-concerning-covert-actions-are-not-often-easily-reached/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [The ecological movement is concerned about this, and this is in here, where everything is public. In Iran, where everything is covert, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/the-ecological-movement-is-concerned-about-this-and-this-is-in-here/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [It was during George W. Bush's presidency that Iran mastered the nuclear fuel cycle, that they built covert facilities, that they stocked them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-was-during-george-w-bush-s-presidency-that-iran-mastered-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) [Browse all 109 Covert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covert/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Covert action is by definition outside the ambit of democracy.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hodding Carter III" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hodding-carter-iii/covert-action-is-by-definition-outside-the-ambit-of-democracy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Covert" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hodding-carter-iii/covert-action-is-by-definition-outside-the-ambit-of-democracy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/hodding-carter-iii-71198_covert_covert-action-is-by-definition-outside-t_590256.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/hodding-carter-iii-71198_covert_covert-action-is-by-definition-outside-t_590256.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/hodding-carter-iii-71198_covert_covert-action-is-by-definition-outside-t_590256.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Covert action is by definition outside the ambit of democracy.” — Hodding Carter III", "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": "Hodding Carter III", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hodding-carter-iii/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Covert action is by definition outside...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hodding-carter-iii/covert-action-is-by-definition-outside-the-ambit-of-democracy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hodding-carter-iii/covert-action-is-by-definition-outside-the-ambit-of-democracy/#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 } } ] } ```