--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We live in a dirty and dangerous world…" description: "\"We live in a dirty and dangerous world. There are some things the general public does not need to know, and shouldn't. I believe democracy flourishes w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/katharine-graham-11632_believe_we-live-in-a-dirty-and-dangerous-world-t_2524595.png" --- # We live in a dirty and dangerous world. There are some… ![“We live in a dirty and dangerous world. There are some things the general public does not need to know, and shouldn't. I believe democracy flourishes when the government can take legitimate steps to keep its secrets and when the press can decide whether to print what it knows.” quote by Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/katharine-graham-11632_believe_we-live-in-a-dirty-and-dangerous-world-t_2524595.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/katharine-graham-11632_believe_we-live-in-a-dirty-and-dangerous-world-t_2524595.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/katharine-graham-11632_believe_we-live-in-a-dirty-and-dangerous-world-t_2524595.png) > “We live in a dirty and dangerous world. There are some things the general public does not need to know, and shouldn't. I believe democracy flourishes when the government can take legitimate steps to keep its secrets and when the press can decide whether to print what it knows.” [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Transparency and secrecy must be balanced; democracy thrives when governments protect vital secrets while the press responsibly decides what to disclose. **In simple terms:** Democracy needs both secrecy and a free press. Key Takeaway Balance secrecy with press freedom. Themes democracy media government ethics Mood cautious critical Type analytical ethical When to use this quote - national security - whistleblowing - press releases - public debates - legislation Key Concepts political theory journalism public policy Questions to Reflect On - When should secrets be kept? - Who decides what the press should publish? A Different Perspective Too much secrecy can erode trust and empower abuse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cia/) [Dangerous world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-world/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [General public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-public/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [New world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-world/) [New world order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-world-order/) [Nwo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nwo/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-government/) [World order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-order/) ## Related quotes > [I believe democracy flourishes when the government can take legitimate steps to keep its secrets and when the press can decide whether to print…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-graham/i-believe-democracy-flourishes-when-the-government-can-take/) Katherine Graham > [There are some things the general public does not need to know and shouldn't. I believe democracy flourishes when the government can take legitimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-some-things-the-general-public-does-not-need-to-know-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our democracy flourishes when people stand up for themselves and engage in the political process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-hassan/our-democracy-flourishes-when-people-stand-up-for-themselves-and/) [Maggie Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-hassan/) > [The public does not know what is possible. We do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akio-morita/the-public-does-not-know-what-is-possible-we-do/) [Akio Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akio-morita/) > [The public does not like you to mislead or represent yourself to be something you're not. And the other thing that the public really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-richards/the-public-does-not-like-you-to-mislead-or-represent-yourself-to-be/) [Ann Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-richards/) > [The American public does not know poets exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-broughton/the-american-public-does-not-know-poets-exist/) [James Broughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-broughton/) > [The public does not need to be convinced that there is something in mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/the-public-does-not-need-to-be-convinced-that-there-is-something-in/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [Limitation is essential to authority. A government is legitimate only if it is effectively limited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/limitation-is-essential-to-authority-a-government-is-legitimate-only/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [“Subversion can only be treason if government is legitimate.  When a government has broken international law and its own internal laws it ceases to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-russell-overton/subversion-can-only-be-treason-if-government-is-legitimate-when-a/) G. Russell Overton > [A government is not legitimate merely because it exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/a-government-is-not-legitimate-merely-because-it-exists/) [Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/) > [Government has a legitimate sphere of operation. 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Dembski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-dembski/) > [Most of Albania considers this Government to be legitimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatos-nano/most-of-albania-considers-this-government-to-be-legitimate/) [Fatos Nano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatos-nano/) > [Through systematic terror, through indoctrination, through systematic manipulation of stimulus, reward, and punishment, we can today break man and convert him into brute animal...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/through-systematic-terror-through-indoctrination-through-systematic/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Government can have no more than two legitimate purposes - the suppression of injustice against individuals within the community, and the common defense against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/government-can-have-no-more-than-two-legitimate-purposes-the/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Well, it's very clear that the Arab population is rising because they'd like to have a say in the running of their affairs, running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-waleed-bin-talal/well-it-s-very-clear-that-the-arab-population-is-rising-because-they/) [Al-Waleed bin Talal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-waleed-bin-talal/) ## More by Katharine Graham > [In Washington, the public and the private intertwine in such a way that they can't be easily separated. This is the city where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/in-washington-the-public-and-the-private-intertwine-in-such-a-way/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [I always thought if you worked hard enough and tried hard enough, things would work out. I was wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/i-always-thought-if-you-worked-hard-enough-and-tried-hard-enough/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [My mother seemed to undermine so much of what I did, subtly belittling my choices and my activities in light of her greater, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/my-mother-seemed-to-undermine-so-much-of-what-i-did-subtly-belittling/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [In my first year or so at the 'Post,' I began to write with some frequency on the least important issues - so-called light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/in-my-first-year-or-so-at-the-post-i-began-to-write-with-some/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [I love Martha's Vineyard, where I have had a house for thirty years. I have loved visiting countries around the world. But I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/i-love-martha-s-vineyard-where-i-have-had-a-house-for-thirty-years-i/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [Democracy depends on information circulating freely in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/democracy-depends-on-information-circulating-freely-in-society/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [One doesn't soon forget the natural beauty of Washington, although those of us who live here do sometimes take it for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/one-doesn-t-soon-forget-the-natural-beauty-of-washington-although/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [“I resigned myself quite contentedly to the life of a vegetable. I went to cooking school in the morning, had lunch with friends, sat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/i-resigned-myself-quite-contentedly-to-the-life-of-a-vegetable-i-went/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [The thing women must do to rise to power is to redefine their femininity. Once, power was considered a masculine attribute. In fact power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/the-thing-women-must-do-to-rise-to-power-is-to-redefine-their/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [Whatever power I exert is collegial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/whatever-power-i-exert-is-collegial/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [Some questions don't have answers, which is a terribly difficult lesson to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/some-questions-don-t-have-answers-which-is-a-terribly-difficult/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [The organization that I joined when I went to work, the trade association called the Bureau of Advertising, became the first of many over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/the-organization-that-i-joined-when-i-went-to-work-the-trade/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [“I believe...that education is not only the most important societal problem but the most interesting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/i-believe-that-education-is-not-only-the-most-important-societal/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [There seems to me nothing very bad about a nation's capital having good intentions - and when the intentions are magnificent, so much the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/there-seems-to-me-nothing-very-bad-about-a-nation-s-capital-having/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [Mountain climbing was one of Mother's favorite occupations, but she never succeeded in inculcating this passion in any of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/mountain-climbing-was-one-of-mother-s-favorite-occupations-but-she/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) [Explore all 59 Katharine Graham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. 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And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [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/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We live in a dirty and dangerous world. There are some things the general public does not need to know, and shouldn't. 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