Decision Quote by Laura Poitras
“We don't stand here alone, it's possible through the great organisations that support us. The disclosures that Edward Snowden revealed aren't only a threat to privacy but to democracy, when the most important decisions made affect all of us. Thank you to Edward Snowden. I share this with Glenn Greenwald and other journalists who are exposing truth.”
About This Quote
Source Documentary: Citizenfour, 2014
The quote highlights how whistleblowing and investigative journalism rely on supportive networks, and how revelations about surveillance threaten both privacy and democratic processes.
In simple terms: Whistleblowers need allies; their work endangers freedom.
Key Takeaway
Support and protect truth‑tellers.
Themes
privacy
democracy
whistleblowing
journalism
surveillance
Mood
concerned
serious
Type
political
informative
When to use this quote
- activists
- journalists
- policy makers
- citizens
- legal advocates
Key Concepts
Civil liberties
government accountability
media ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance security with civil liberties?
- What role should citizens play in defending privacy?
A Different Perspective
The impact may be limited without systemic reforms and public engagement.
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![“So my first experience was that I had to do a reboot of my expectations. Like fantastic, great, he's young and charismatic and I was like wow, this is so disorienting, I have to reboot. In retrospect, I can see that it's really powerful that somebody [Snowden] so smart, so young, and with so much…” quote by Laura Poitras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a6d/laura-poitras-22687_charismatic_so-my-first-experience-was-that-i-had-to_2224785.jpg)
![“I think one of the most shocking things is how little our elected officials knew about what the NSA was doing. Congress is learning from the reporting and that's staggering. Snowden and [former NSA employee] William Binney, who's also in the film as a whistleblower from a different generation, are…” quote by Laura Poitras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/779/laura-poitras-22687_congress_i-think-one-of-the-most-shocking-things_1212692.jpg)
![“There are people who are always going to try to engage in activity that is illegal and they're going to try to subvert surveillance. But everybody should not give up their liberties and rights to privacy because some people are going to [do that]. We shouldn't stop or limit our basic liberties…” quote by Laura Poitras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e7b/laura-poitras-22687_activity_there-are-people-who-are-always-going-to_928708.jpg)
