---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only a very small number of the e-mails…"
description: "\"Only a very small number of the e-mails containing classified information bore markings indicating the presence of classified information. But even if ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aba/james-comey-17512_bores_only-a-very-small-number-of-the-e-mails_1918734.jpg"
---

#  Only a very small number of the e-mails containing…

![“Only a very small number of the e-mails containing classified information bore markings indicating the presence of classified information. But even if information is not marked 'classified' in an e-mail, participants who know or should know that the subject matter is classified are still obligated…” quote by James Comey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aba/james-comey-17512_bores_only-a-very-small-number-of-the-e-mails_1918734.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aba/james-comey-17512_bores_only-a-very-small-number-of-the-e-mails_1918734.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aba/james-comey-17512_bores_only-a-very-small-number-of-the-e-mails_1918734.jpg)

> “Only a very small number of the e-mails containing classified information bore markings indicating the presence of classified information. But even if information is not marked 'classified' in an e-mail, participants who know or should know that the subject matter is classified are still obligated to protect it.”

[James Comey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-comey/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Classified information must be protected even without explicit markings if the content is known to be sensitive.

**In simple terms:** Protect classified info even if unmarked.

Key Takeaway

Always verify sensitivity before sharing.

Themes

security ethics information handling law

Mood

cautious serious professional

Type

policy procedural

When to use this quote

- government communications
- corporate emails
- legal compliance

Key Concepts

classification duty of care risk management

Questions to Reflect On

- What safeguards can ensure protection of unmarked classified data?
- How can organizations improve awareness of implicit classification?

A Different Perspective

Markings may be missed, leading to accidental leaks.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Classified information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classified-information/) [Small numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-numbers/)

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