--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are a fact-gathering organization…" description: "\"We are a fact-gathering organization only. We don't clear anybody. We don't condemn anybody.\" — J. Edgar Hoover" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/j-edgar-hoover-17421_clear_we-are-a-fact-gathering-organization-onl_1005337.jpg" --- # We are a fact-gathering organization only. We don't clear… ![“We are a fact-gathering organization only. We don't clear anybody. We don't condemn anybody.” quote by J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/j-edgar-hoover-17421_clear_we-are-a-fact-gathering-organization-onl_1005337.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/j-edgar-hoover-17421_clear_we-are-a-fact-gathering-organization-onl_1005337.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/j-edgar-hoover-17421_clear_we-are-a-fact-gathering-organization-onl_1005337.jpg) > “We are a fact-gathering organization only. We don't clear anybody. We don't condemn anybody.” [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The agency claims it only collects information and does not act against individuals. **In simple terms:** We gather facts, not punish. Key Takeaway Focus on data collection only. Themes law enforcement ethics transparency Mood neutral formal Type policy statement When to use this quote - policy drafting - public communication - media reporting Key Concepts surveillance neutrality Questions to Reflect On - Should an agency remain purely observational? - What are the risks of non‑intervention? A Different Perspective May ignore the impact of inaction on justice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) ## Related quotes > [We (the FBI) are a fact-gathering organization only. We don't clear anybody. We don't condemn anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/we-the-fbi-are-a-fact-gathering-organization-only-we-don-t-clear/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [For Donald Trump to dismiss out of hand the intelligence community's fact gathering is, frankly - doesn't bode well for him protecting our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/for-donald-trump-to-dismiss-out-of-hand-the-intelligence-community-s/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [I believe that the market is slowly waking up to the fact that the Federal Reserve is a clueless organization. They have no idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-faber/i-believe-that-the-market-is-slowly-waking-up-to-the-fact-that-the/) [Marc Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-faber/) > [Fact is, awards shows were never really about recognizing achievement. They were a publicity ploy cooked up in the late 1920s by MGM topper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/fact-is-awards-shows-were-never-really-about-recognizing-achievement/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [We like to think the best of ourselves. We like to believe we always say and do the right things. We like to believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/we-like-to-think-the-best-of-ourselves-we-like-to-believe-we-always/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [The wretch condemn'd with life to part, Still, still on hope relies; And every pang that rends the heart Bids expectation rise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-wretch-condemn-d-with-life-to-part-still-still-on-hope-relies-and/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [I condemn all statements - made in sincerity or jest - that threaten or suggest the use of violence against the president of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-broun/i-condemn-all-statements-made-in-sincerity-or-jest-that-threaten-or/) [Paul Broun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-broun/) > [Many governments are quick to condemn Assad, but a dwindling number of them would celebrate a rebel victory in Damascus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/many-governments-are-quick-to-condemn-assad-but-a-dwindling-number-of/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [You'll hunt me. You'll condemn me. Set the dogs on me. Because that's what needs to happen. Because sometimes truth isn't good enough. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bale/you-ll-hunt-me-you-ll-condemn-me-set-the-dogs-on-me-because-that-s/) [Christian Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bale/) > [It is rash to condemn where you are ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-rash-to-condemn-where-you-are-ignorant/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [...The people love him. So how can we condemn him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/the-people-love-him-so-how-can-we-condemn-him/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [“Fix, commit, condemn yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/fix-commit-condemn-yourself/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-there-is-injustice-dare-to-be-the-first-to-condemn-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Going to the extreme of inviting and welcoming people into your church in order to hear you condemn them or to know from your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/going-to-the-extreme-of-inviting-and-welcoming-people-into-your/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [If you condemn someone who has committed a crime to be tortured, that would be unconstitutional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-you-condemn-someone-who-has-committed-a-crime-to-be-tortured-that/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) ## More by J. Edgar Hoover > [ I would do it \[study UFOs\], but before agreeing to do it, we must insist upon full access to discs recovered. For instance in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/i-would-do-it-study-ufos-but-before-agreeing-to-do-it-we-must-insist/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [It can be held certain that information that is withheld or suppressed contains truths that are detrimental to the persons involved in the suppression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/it-can-be-held-certain-that-information-that-is-withheld-or/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [Even great men can be corrupted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/even-great-men-can-be-corrupted/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [Banks are an almost irresistible attraction for that element of our society which seeks unearned money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/banks-are-an-almost-irresistible-attraction-for-that-element-of-our/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [There is something addictive about secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/there-is-something-addictive-about-secrets/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [WHAT WE NEED IN AMERICA TODAY IS A VIGOROUS RETURN TO THE GOD OF OUR FATHERS AND A MOST VIGOROUS DEFENSE AGAINST THE MINION…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/what-we-need-in-america-today-is-a-vigorous-return-to-the-god-of-our/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [Just the minute the FBI begins making recommendations on what should be done with its information, it becomes a Gestapo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/just-the-minute-the-fbi-begins-making-recommendations-on-what-should/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [The individual is handicapped by coming face-to-face with a conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/the-individual-is-handicapped-by-coming-face-to-face-with-a/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [I regret to say that we of the FBI are powerless to act in cases of oral-genital intimacy, unless it has in some way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/i-regret-to-say-that-we-of-the-fbi-are-powerless-to-act-in-cases-of-2/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [What you need is a good Hoovering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/what-you-need-is-a-good-hoovering/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [All persons who bear the blessed title of parent have the personal responsibility to see that their children are growing up fully appreciative of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/all-persons-who-bear-the-blessed-title-of-parent-have-the-personal/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [Experts say that children are not born criminals, nor pampered parasites. They are made that way by the environment in which they live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/experts-say-that-children-are-not-born-criminals-nor-pampered/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [Why should you care if you have nothing to hide?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/why-should-you-care-if-you-have-nothing-to-hide/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [The American mind simply has not come to a realization of the evil which has been introduced into our midst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/the-american-mind-simply-has-not-come-to-a-realization-of-the-evil/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) > [Justice is incidental to law and order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-edgar-hoover/justice-is-incidental-to-law-and-order/) [J. Edgar Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) [Explore all 37 J. Edgar Hoover quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-edgar-hoover/) ## More Clear quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [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/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/) [Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [I've always made it clear that I do not believe that global government is either necessary or feasible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-always-made-it-clear-that-i-do-not-believe-that-global/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Alec Wilkinson is a spare, clear, and lucid writer who works in stylistic simplicity with material that is not simple at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/alec-wilkinson-is-a-spare-clear-and-lucid-writer-who-works-in/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) Browse all 7,410 Clear quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are a fact-gathering organization only. We don't clear anybody. We don't condemn anybody.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. 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