--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A good undercover agent stays as close to…" description: "\"A good undercover agent stays as close to the truth as possible, as close to your own personality and your own values as possible. This is the way you ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/joseph-d-pistone-24411_character_a-good-undercover-agent-stays-as-close-t_237987.jpg" --- # A good undercover agent stays as close to the truth as… ![“A good undercover agent stays as close to the truth as possible, as close to your own personality and your own values as possible. This is the way you stay in character - you try to be yourself.” quote by Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/joseph-d-pistone-24411_character_a-good-undercover-agent-stays-as-close-t_237987.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/joseph-d-pistone-24411_character_a-good-undercover-agent-stays-as-close-t_237987.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/joseph-d-pistone-24411_character_a-good-undercover-agent-stays-as-close-t_237987.jpg) > “A good undercover agent stays as close to the truth as possible, as close to your own personality and your own values as possible. This is the way you stay in character - you try to be yourself.” [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An undercover operative must align their role with personal truth, personality, and values to stay authentic and effective. **In simple terms:** Stay true to yourself while playing a role. Key Takeaway Blend authenticity with disguise. Themes identity authenticity espionage psychology Mood tense reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - undercover work - law enforcement training - personal development - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts role‑play self‑alignment ethical boundaries Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain personal integrity under deception? - What limits should guide an undercover agent’s self‑expression? A Different Perspective Balancing personal values with deceptive tasks can cause internal conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [An anarchist is like an undercover agent who plays the game of Reason in order to undercut the authority of Reason (Truth, Honesty, Justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/an-anarchist-is-like-an-undercover-agent-who-plays-the-game-of-reason/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [I’d like to know more about this undercover agent who posed as my daughter’s date. The ubiquitous Tall, Dark, and Smoldering.' Nick put on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/i-d-like-to-know-more-about-this-undercover-agent-who-posed-as-my/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [“The situation with Jordan was starting to seem too real for his comfort. This normally would be the point when he, sensing a possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/the-situation-with-jordan-was-starting-to-seem-too-real-for-his/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [“Do you know how long I’ve waited for you to look at me this way?” She assumed he was teasing her. “What are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/do-you-know-how-long-i-ve-waited-for-you-to-look-at-me-this-way-she/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [An undercover agent sent by goverment to kill hip hop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soulja-boy/an-undercover-agent-sent-by-goverment-to-kill-hip-hop/) [Soulja Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soulja-boy/) > [If you deal with every customer in the same way, you will only close 25 to 30 percent of your contacts, because you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-nichols/if-you-deal-with-every-customer-in-the-same-way-you-will-only-close/) Rod Nichols > [I try to keep my social media really close to my personality. Then people can see exactly who I am and what I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaia-gerber/i-try-to-keep-my-social-media-really-close-to-my-personality-then/) [Kaia Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaia-gerber/) > [Just recently up in Utah, some guy got 55 years for selling an ounce of pot to an undercover agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/just-recently-up-in-utah-some-guy-got-55-years-for-selling-an-ounce/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I rarely carried a gun undercover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-rarely-carried-a-gun-undercover/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I spent lunchtime in a grave during the filming of 'Bloody Mama.' When you're younger, you feel that's what you need to do to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-spent-lunchtime-in-a-grave-during-the-filming-of-bloody-mama-when/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [Jesus is the only character who I would hope to stay in character as all the time. But some people want a spiritual encounter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-roumie/jesus-is-the-only-character-who-i-would-hope-to-stay-in-character-as/) [Jonathan Roumie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-roumie/) > [I suppose the underlying current for me is the idea of not doing something I've done before. I call myself a character actor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-suppose-the-underlying-current-for-me-is-the-idea-of-not-doing/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [Acting is about giving yourself away, like the U2 song 'With or Without You.' You just don't stay behind a character and make people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/acting-is-about-giving-yourself-away-like-the-u2-song-with-or-without/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [Certain people do need to stay in character the whole time, and that's just what they require as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-angarano/certain-people-do-need-to-stay-in-character-the-whole-time-and-that-s/) [Michael Angarano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-angarano/) > [For me to have the opportunity to stay with one character for, God willing, a long period of time, is really exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-linney/for-me-to-have-the-opportunity-to-stay-with-one-character-for-god/) [Laura Linney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-linney/) ## More by Joseph D. Pistone > [Unless you are absolutely positive that your wife has no connection to the Mafia, even three or four times removed, do yourself a favor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/unless-you-are-absolutely-positive-that-your-wife-has-no-connection/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [One thing I take great pride in is that my case was the one that started the decline of the Mafia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/one-thing-i-take-great-pride-in-is-that-my-case-was-the-one-that/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I was Donnie Brasco, the Mafia guy, in character. But in my head, I was a special agent. I never lost sight of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-was-donnie-brasco-the-mafia-guy-in-character-but-in-my-head-i-was-a/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [With wiseguys, you don't know a guy by his name, only by his nickname. You never asked a guy for his last name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/with-wiseguys-you-don-t-know-a-guy-by-his-name-only-by-his-nickname/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > ['Donnie Brasco' was 85 percent on the money. The only thing that they slanted was my feelings for Lefty and Sonny', and this idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/donnie-brasco-was-85-percent-on-the-money-the-only-thing-that-they/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I'm always leery about bumping into somebody. One time I was with my wife in a restaurant, I saw somebody from my undercover days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-m-always-leery-about-bumping-into-somebody-one-time-i-was-with-my/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > ['The Godfather' is a great movie, but it gives them too much credit. What you don't see is what really takes place: the in-fighting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/the-godfather-is-a-great-movie-but-it-gives-them-too-much-credit-what/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I rarely carried a gun undercover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-rarely-carried-a-gun-undercover/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [As a teen-ager I played cards, shot craps, played pool, went to the track, hung around social clubs. I knew that some card and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/as-a-teen-ager-i-played-cards-shot-craps-played-pool-went-to-the/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I knew how wiseguys acted. I knew the mentality. I knew things to do and not to do. Keep your mouth shut at certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-knew-how-wiseguys-acted-i-knew-the-mentality-i-knew-things-to-do/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I didn't try to be a tough guy. I didn't try to be a big mobster. I was who I was. I didn't stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-didn-t-try-to-be-a-tough-guy-i-didn-t-try-to-be-a-big-mobster-i-was/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I left a lot of personal stuff out of 'Donnie Brasco.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-left-a-lot-of-personal-stuff-out-of-donnie-brasco/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [Watching the dailies and then watching the... episodes, it really hits you: 'Damn, I did that?' I must have been crazy to get into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/watching-the-dailies-and-then-watching-the-episodes-it-really-hits/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [When you wear a wire, you're always in danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/when-you-wear-a-wire-you-re-always-in-danger/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I grew up in a city, an Italian, knowing what the Mafia was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-grew-up-in-a-city-an-italian-knowing-what-the-mafia-was/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) [Explore all 24 Joseph D. Pistone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A good undercover agent stays as close to the truth as possible, as close to your own personality and your own values as possible. 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