---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We live in what's called an open society…"
description: "\"We live in what's called an open society, which of course means they open our emails, open our phone records, and open our medical records.\" — Jay Leno"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/jay-leno-210_courses_we-live-in-what-s-called-an-open-society_959357.png"
---

#  We live in what's called an open society, which of course…

![“We live in what's called an open society, which of course means they open our emails, open our phone records, and open our medical records.” quote by Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/jay-leno-210_courses_we-live-in-what-s-called-an-open-society_959357.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/jay-leno-210_courses_we-live-in-what-s-called-an-open-society_959357.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/jay-leno-210_courses_we-live-in-what-s-called-an-open-society_959357.png)

> “We live in what's called an open society, which of course means they open our emails, open our phone records, and open our medical records.”

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

## About This Quote

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

Open society allows widespread access to personal data, eroding privacy.

**In simple terms:** Open society erodes privacy.

Key Takeaway

Guard your data.

Themes

privacy surveillance technology

Mood

concerned critical

Type

political commentary

When to use this quote

- online communication
- government monitoring
- personal data protection
- media scrutiny
- legal reform

Key Concepts

civil liberties digital rights

Questions to Reflect On

- How much privacy are you willing to trade for security?
- What laws could limit data access?

A Different Perspective

Even open societies need safeguards for individual rights.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Medical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical/) [Open society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-society/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/)

## Related quotes

> [I get up early and open my emails, write cheques, and answer the phone; whatever needs to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/i-get-up-early-and-open-my-emails-write-cheques-and-answer-the-phone/)

[Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/)

> [There's this thing called being so open-minded your brains drop out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/there-s-this-thing-called-being-so-open-minded-your-brains-drop-out/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [“One year later the society claimed victory in another case which again did not fit within the parameters of the syndrome, nor did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trouble-and-strife/one-year-later-the-society-claimed-victory-in-another-case-which/)

Trouble and Strife

> [The government's collection authority, under the Patriot Act, is basically limitless. They can get the medical records and financial records, gun purchase records. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/the-government-s-collection-authority-under-the-patriot-act-is/)

[Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/)

> [Law-abiding Americans deserve to know that their government will not secretly tap their phones, read their medical records, access their library accounts or otherwise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-neas/law-abiding-americans-deserve-to-know-that-their-government-will-not/)

Ralph Neas

> [Vague promises of savings from cutting waste, enhancing prevention and wellness, installing electronic medical records and improving quality are merely lipstick cost control, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-emanuel/vague-promises-of-savings-from-cutting-waste-enhancing-prevention-and/)

[Ezekiel Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-emanuel/)

> [We see it in attempts on Capitol Hill to impose gag rules on rules on doctors on what they can say to their patients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-see-it-in-attempts-on-capitol-hill-to-impose-gag-rules-on-rules-on/)

[Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/)

> [“Then there is the matter of the presidential untruths. The problem is not just that Barack Obama says things that are untrue but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/then-there-is-the-matter-of-the-presidential-untruths-the-problem-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The main thing is that people see constant reports of break-ins on, on record systems and stolen financial data and social security records and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davis/the-main-thing-is-that-people-see-constant-reports-of-break-ins-on-on/)

[William Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davis/)

> [“Emergency department physicians spent 44 percent of their time entering data into electronic medical records, clicking up to 4,000 times during a 10-hour shift.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wachter/emergency-department-physicians-spent-44-percent-of-their-time/)

[Robert Wachter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wachter/)

> [Without medical records that he hasn't released, we can't know whether Gingrich may have inherited his mother's manic depression. Nevertheless, one observes in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-weisberg/without-medical-records-that-he-hasn-t-released-we-can-t-know-whether/)

[Jacob Weisberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-weisberg/)

> [And as a nurse, I know very well the importance, for example, of electronic medical records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-capps/and-as-a-nurse-i-know-very-well-the-importance-for-example-of/)

[Lois Capps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-capps/)

> [Senator John McCain, who spent over five years in a Vietnamese POW camp, publicly releases 1,000 pages of medical records. Now people are left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/senator-john-mccain-who-spent-over-five-years-in-a-vietnamese-pow/)

[Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/)

> [ Hurricane Katrina reiterated the need for \[access to\] medical records, ... ... But there's going to be a lot more needed than $4 million. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carper/hurricane-katrina-reiterated-the-need-for-access-to-medical-records/)

[Thomas Carper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carper/)

> [Electronic medical records are, in a lot of ways, I think the aspect of technology that is going to revolutionize the way we deliver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/risa-lavizzo-mourey/electronic-medical-records-are-in-a-lot-of-ways-i-think-the-aspect-of/)

[Risa Lavizzo-Mourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/risa-lavizzo-mourey/)

## More by Jay Leno

> [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Michael Jackson has a new baby boy; no word yet who the father is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/michael-jackson-has-a-new-baby-boy-no-word-yet-who-the-father-is/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [There is a nationwide shortage of drugs for Attention Deficit Disorder. The FDA says they're not sure how it happened. I guess somebody wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/there-is-a-nationwide-shortage-of-drugs-for-attention-deficit/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [“Leno said the rainy weather in California "couldn't have come at a worse possible time. Today was the day NBC was supposed to burn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/leno-said-the-rainy-weather-in-california-couldn-t-have-come-at-a/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Donald Trump said he will not decide about a possible run for the presidency until after the current season of Celebrity Apprentice wraps up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/donald-trump-said-he-will-not-decide-about-a-possible-run-for-the/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [American forces in Iraq found $650 million in American cash sealed in a hidden cottage. See, this is why President Bush wants to invade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/american-forces-in-iraq-found-650-million-in-american-cash-sealed-in/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [I wanted to have a career in sports when I was young, but I had to give up the idea. I'm only six feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/i-wanted-to-have-a-career-in-sports-when-i-was-young-but-i-had-to/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Texas Gov. Rick Perry referred to the Mexican city of Juarez as the most dangerous city in America. In his defense, he probably just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/texas-gov-rick-perry-referred-to-the-mexican-city-of-juarez-as-the/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [You can tell you ate too much for Thanksgiving when you have to let your bathrobe out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/you-can-tell-you-ate-too-much-for-thanksgiving-when-you-have-to-let/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [The Mayans have predicted the world is supposed to end on December 21. If the world doesn't end on December 21, you can bet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-mayans-have-predicted-the-world-is-supposed-to-end-on-december-21/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [The Globe reports that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il raises money by selling fake Viagra pills. What it is about this guy? None of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-globe-reports-that-north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-il-raises-money/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Jack Abramoff is going to testify against some of the other weasels in Congress. A lobbyist testifying against congressmen? How many Bibles are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/jack-abramoff-is-going-to-testify-against-some-of-the-other-weasels/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Tomorrow, America's most famous hockey mom, Sarah Palin, will drop the ceremonial first puck at the Philadelphia Flyers game. Right afterwards, she'll get out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/tomorrow-america-s-most-famous-hockey-mom-sarah-palin-will-drop-the/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

[Explore all 900 Jay Leno quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

## More Courses quotes

> [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Our critical day is not the very day of our death; but the whole course of our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/our-critical-day-is-not-the-very-day-of-our-death-but-the-whole/)

[John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/)

> [ Bernie \[Ecclestone\] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. Of course. I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/)

[Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/)

> [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [We are always saying: Let the Law take its Course but what we really mean is: Let the Law take OUR Course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/we-are-always-saying-let-the-law-take-its-course-but-what-we-really/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [I earn my living by teaching film, mostly filmmaking but also teaching courses on current cinema. I'm interested in movies. I hope that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-andersen/i-earn-my-living-by-teaching-film-mostly-filmmaking-but-also-teaching/)

[Thom Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-andersen/)

> [The wisdom of our actions in the first three years of peace will determine the course of world history for half a century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-wallace/the-wisdom-of-our-actions-in-the-first-three-years-of-peace-will/)

[Henry A. Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-wallace/)

> [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/)

[Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/)

> [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. Halfway through surgery it looks like there’s been a murder in the operating room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-bake-a-cake-without-getting-the-kitchen-messy-halfway/)

[Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/)

> [ Leave a cavity behind the \[wall\] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-and-on-the-inside-build-walls/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [Of course it does on opening night, but I've never had that devastating stage fright that some people get, but apparently, you can develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/of-course-it-does-on-opening-night-but-i-ve-never-had-that/)

[Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/)

> [I studied philosophy and ended on sociology. For some reason, all the advanced courses in philosophy were offered 4:30 to 6:30, so I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-jackson/i-studied-philosophy-and-ended-on-sociology-for-some-reason-all-the/)

[Lawrence Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-jackson/)

> [There is no one who can change My course or affect My conduct to the slightest extent. I am the Master over all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/there-is-no-one-who-can-change-my-course-or-affect-my-conduct-to-the/)

[Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/)

> [In the course of our eternal existence, we spend infinitely more time in the spirit world on the other side than we spend in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/in-the-course-of-our-eternal-existence-we-spend-infinitely-more-time/)

[Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/)

Browse all 6,995 Courses quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We live in what's called an open society, which of course means they open our emails, open our phone records, and open our medical records.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jay Leno"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/we-live-in-what-s-called-an-open-society-which-of-course-means-they/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Courses"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/we-live-in-what-s-called-an-open-society-which-of-course-means-they/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/jay-leno-210_courses_we-live-in-what-s-called-an-open-society_959357.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/jay-leno-210_courses_we-live-in-what-s-called-an-open-society_959357.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/jay-leno-210_courses_we-live-in-what-s-called-an-open-society_959357.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We live in what's called an open society, which of course means they open our emails, open our phone…” — Jay Leno",
                "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": "Jay Leno",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We live in what's called an...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/we-live-in-what-s-called-an-open-society-which-of-course-means-they/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/we-live-in-what-s-called-an-open-society-which-of-course-means-they/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
