---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody in the government is talking. It’s…"
description: "\"“Nobody in the government is talking. It’s a case of national security.” “Of course. The national security of spying on U.S. citizens.”\" — Kenneth Eade"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50f/kenneth-eade-12790_cybersecurity_nobody-in-the-government-is-talking-it-s_2817598.jpg"
---

#  Nobody in the government is talking. It’s a case of…

![“Nobody in the government is talking. It’s a case of national security.” “Of course. The national security of spying on U.S. citizens.” quote by Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50f/kenneth-eade-12790_cybersecurity_nobody-in-the-government-is-talking-it-s_2817598.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50f/kenneth-eade-12790_cybersecurity_nobody-in-the-government-is-talking-it-s_2817598.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50f/kenneth-eade-12790_cybersecurity_nobody-in-the-government-is-talking-it-s_2817598.jpg)

> ““Nobody in the government is talking. It’s a case of national security.” “Of course. The national security of spying on U.S. citizens.””

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

## About This Quote

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

Government secrecy is justified under vague “national security” claims, often to conceal surveillance of citizens.

**In simple terms:** Authorities hide surveillance behind security excuses.

Key Takeaway

Question transparency and oversight.

Themes

government surveillance privacy trust accountability

Mood

critical concerned

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- journalism
- legal reform
- public advocacy
- technology policy

Key Concepts

national security civil liberties state power

Questions to Reflect On

- How can citizens ensure government accountability?
- What safeguards protect privacy?

A Different Perspective

Security claims can be overused to suppress dissent.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Eavesdropping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eavesdropping/) [Government Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-talking-2178083/) [National security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-security/) [Nsa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nsa/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Privacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privacy/) [Security Spying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security-spying-3564628/) [Spying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spying/) [Spying Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spying-citizens-3564627/)

## Related quotes

> [Spying on our citizens? That's just wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/spying-on-our-citizens-that-s-just-wrong/)

[Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/)

> [“Oh, that? I never thought it was eavesdropping, Aslan. Wasn't it magic?" "Spying on people by magic is the same as spying on them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/oh-that-i-never-thought-it-was-eavesdropping-aslan-wasn-t-it-magic/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [Spying on people by magic is the same as spying on them in any other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/spying-on-people-by-magic-is-the-same-as-spying-on-them-in-any-other/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [ “Roosevelt fought hard for the United States to host the opening session \[of the United Nations\]; it seemed a magnanimous gesture to most of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bamford/roosevelt-fought-hard-for-the-united-states-to-host-the-opening/)

[James Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bamford/)

> [“Eavesdropping, Mother?' Ramses inquired. 'It is a shameful habit, but cursed useful,' I said, quoting something he had once said, and was rewarded by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-peters/eavesdropping-mother-ramses-inquired-it-is-a-shameful-habit-but/)

[Elizabeth Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-peters/)

> [“Were you eavesdropping?” “Hell, yeah. Spying too!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolyn-palliata/were-you-eavesdropping-hell-yeah-spying-too/)

[Jolyn Palliata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolyn-palliata/)

> [We have had political parties threatening to bring down the government, talking about it but not bringing down the government. What I am focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cleverly/we-have-had-political-parties-threatening-to-bring-down-the/)

[James Cleverly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cleverly/)

> [What I want to understand is what I am talking about on the stage. What I don't want to understand is what the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/what-i-want-to-understand-is-what-i-am-talking-about-on-the-stage/)

[Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/)

> [Now, I learned soon enough, that among the three, two don't trust the third one - the third one is the government. Both industry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/now-i-learned-soon-enough-that-among-the-three-two-don-t-trust-the/)

[Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/)

> [It is no surprise that the Republican-controlled Senate intelligence committee has once again caved in to the wishes of the White House and refused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reid/it-is-no-surprise-that-the-republican-controlled-senate-intelligence/)

[Harry Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reid/)

> [I can assure you, this is not about spying on the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-can-assure-you-this-is-not-about-spying-on-the-american-people/)

[Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/)

> [I wish I could say I was shocked at the reports the NSA is secretly spying on the private phone calls of millions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/i-wish-i-could-say-i-was-shocked-at-the-reports-the-nsa-is-secretly/)

[Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/)

> [ These \[NSA\] programs were never about terrorism: they're about economic spying, social control, and diplomatic manipulation. They're about power. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/these-nsa-programs-were-never-about-terrorism-they-re-about-economic/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [“In the intelligence community, a rumor was almost as good as a confirmation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/in-the-intelligence-community-a-rumor-was-almost-as-good-as-a/)

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“Wait, were you eavesdropping on my conversation with the duke? That's very rude." "Is it? Half of the plays in the world contain eavesdropping.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-jeffries/wait-were-you-eavesdropping-on-my-conversation-with-the-duke-that-s/)

[Sabrina Jeffries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-jeffries/)

## More by Kenneth Eade

> [“We forget that we humans are animals, inextricably connected to the world and everything in it. In the rush to bring GMO food to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/we-forget-that-we-humans-are-animals-inextricably-connected-to-the/)

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“Genetic engineering was messy. To force a sequence of foreign DNA into a plant, you couldn’t just snip the desired gene from the bacteria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/genetic-engineering-was-messy-to-force-a-sequence-of-foreign-dna-into/)

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“The sensation was an explosion of feelings, leaving in its place a pleasured memory of that moment. That, thought Seth, was pure heaven”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/the-sensation-was-an-explosion-of-feelings-leaving-in-its-place-a/)

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“Terrorism was like heroin – once a lonely, desperate soul was hooked on it, he or she became a fanatic – radicalized they call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/terrorism-was-like-heroin-once-a-lonely-desperate-soul-was-hooked-on/)

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“He was a playboy type in his late 30’s, and a sharp dresser, tonight being no exception. Dave wore a designer sports jacket and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/he-was-a-playboy-type-in-his-late-30-s-and-a-sharp-dresser-tonight/)

[kenneth eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“I think you know how it works, Senator. The big chemical companies fill the coffers of one of your colleagues who is a lawmaker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/i-think-you-know-how-it-works-senator-the-big-chemical-companies-fill/)

[kenneth eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“ISIS was not particular about how their soldiers made it to Jannah, so long as they inflicted maximum damage..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/isis-was-not-particular-about-how-their-soldiers-made-it-to-jannah-so/)

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“annually. It will tell the investor how to use the data”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/annually-it-will-tell-the-investor-how-to-use-the-data/)

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“Seth’s clock had been set on survival so long that he didn’t realize that he was starving himself of an essential element of being,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/seth-s-clock-had-been-set-on-survival-so-long-that-he-didn-t-realize/)

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“Society tends to stick labels on everything and everyone. The label that is given to you will stick with you for a lifetime.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/society-tends-to-stick-labels-on-everything-and-everyone-the-label/)

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“To the heads of the new Islamic State, their God was money and power on earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/to-the-heads-of-the-new-islamic-state-their-god-was-money-and-power/)

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“Some people don’t like lawyers, that is, until they need them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/some-people-don-t-like-lawyers-that-is-until-they-need-them/)

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“Emotions are reserved for juries and, in that case, a good lawyer can really lay them on when the time is right, better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/emotions-are-reserved-for-juries-and-in-that-case-a-good-lawyer-can/)

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“Other people imagined demons and monsters under the bed. Robert had actually seen them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/other-people-imagined-demons-and-monsters-under-the-bed-robert-had/)

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

> [“He was smart, but he had to be smarter. No points for second place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/he-was-smart-but-he-had-to-be-smarter-no-points-for-second-place/)

[Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

[Explore all 53 Kenneth Eade quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/)

## More Cybersecurity quotes

> [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/)

[Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/)

> [“Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority-- where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-select-man-strives-instinctively-for-a-citadel-and-a-privacy/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [Our engagement through international economics, trade, these trade agreements, is vital and is linked to our national security. This is a lesson we learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/our-engagement-through-international-economics-trade-these-trade/)

[Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/)

> [“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you...it means that you do not treat your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/responsibility-to-yourself-means-refusing-to-let-others-do-your/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [I'm OK with guns in schools, if it's a security, trained security personnel. But every teacher having a gun, I don't know if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/i-m-ok-with-guns-in-schools-if-it-s-a-security-trained-security/)

[Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/)

> [I'm also the chairman of the board of Symantec, which is the world's largest cybersecurity - software cybersecurity company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schulman/i-m-also-the-chairman-of-the-board-of-symantec-which-is-the-world-s/)

[Dan Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schulman/)

> [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/)

[Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/)

> [Fraud will always exist. Enforcement of anti-fraud laws is a useful deterrent, but in the end there's no substitute for investor vigilance. Government regulations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/fraud-will-always-exist-enforcement-of-anti-fraud-laws-is-a-useful/)

[John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/)

> [As president, things that you're supposed to focus on, things like the economy, like energy policy, which is completely tied to national security, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-burgum/as-president-things-that-you-re-supposed-to-focus-on-things-like-the/)

[Doug Burgum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-burgum/)

> [The U.S. cannot impose freedom, security, and unity in Iraq by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/the-u-s-cannot-impose-freedom-security-and-unity-in-iraq-by-force/)

[Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/)

> [Men who have lived significant lives are men who never waited: not for money, security, ease, or women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-deida/men-who-have-lived-significant-lives-are-men-who-never-waited-not-for/)

[David Deida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-deida/)

> [I've always said that I benefit, as an actor, from not having the illusion of security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sparks/i-ve-always-said-that-i-benefit-as-an-actor-from-not-having-the/)

[Hal Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sparks/)

> [I don't want to have anything to do with that: just the fame without personal respect for your privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-don-t-want-to-have-anything-to-do-with-that-just-the-fame-without/)

[Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/)

> [The purpose of the military is to close with and destroy the enemy on behalf of our national security priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-wilcox/the-purpose-of-the-military-is-to-close-with-and-destroy-the-enemy-on/)

[Todd Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-wilcox/)

[Browse all 6,947 Cybersecurity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Nobody in the government is talking. It’s a case of national security.” “Of course. The national security of spying on U.S. citizens.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kenneth Eade"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/nobody-in-the-government-is-talking-it-s-a-case-of-national-security/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cybersecurity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/nobody-in-the-government-is-talking-it-s-a-case-of-national-security/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50f/kenneth-eade-12790_cybersecurity_nobody-in-the-government-is-talking-it-s_2817598.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50f/kenneth-eade-12790_cybersecurity_nobody-in-the-government-is-talking-it-s_2817598.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50f/kenneth-eade-12790_cybersecurity_nobody-in-the-government-is-talking-it-s_2817598.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Nobody in the government is talking. It’s a case of national security.” “Of course. The national security of…” — Kenneth Eade",
                "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": "Kenneth Eade",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Nobody in the government is talking....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/nobody-in-the-government-is-talking-it-s-a-case-of-national-security/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/nobody-in-the-government-is-talking-it-s-a-case-of-national-security/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
