--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This American government has become very…" description: "\"This American government has become very adept at attaching labels to people who defend themselves, so that the general population in America will cond..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/leonard-peltier-13445_adept_this-american-government-has-become-very_2525617.png" --- # This American government has become very adept at… ![“This American government has become very adept at attaching labels to people who defend themselves, so that the general population in America will condone their behavior.” quote by Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/leonard-peltier-13445_adept_this-american-government-has-become-very_2525617.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/leonard-peltier-13445_adept_this-american-government-has-become-very_2525617.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/leonard-peltier-13445_adept_this-american-government-has-become-very_2525617.png) > “This American government has become very adept at attaching labels to people who defend themselves, so that the general population in America will condone their behavior.” [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The government labels self‑defenders, making the public accept their mistreatment. **In simple terms:** Labels justify oppression. Key Takeaway Question and resist labeling. Themes government labeling defense public perception Mood defiant hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - activism - legal defense - community organizing - policy reform Key Concepts propaganda civil rights media framing Questions to Reflect On - Who decides the labels? - How can we protect self‑defenders? A Different Perspective Labels can be challenged and changed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-government/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [In the past, when we were initially organizing to bring about changes, our elders had little or no political experience. However, today, most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/in-the-past-when-we-were-initially-organizing-to-bring-about-changes/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [It's often a bad sign when people defend themselves against charges which haven't been made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-often-a-bad-sign-when-people-defend-themselves-against-charges/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Most people would rather defend to the death your right to say it than listen to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/most-people-would-rather-defend-to-the-death-your-right-to-say-it/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [Since when do we have to agree with people to defend them from injustice?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/since-when-do-we-have-to-agree-with-people-to-defend-them-from/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [Since when do you have to agree with people to defend them from injustice?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/since-when-do-you-have-to-agree-with-people-to-defend-them-from/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [Perhaps... I mean there are people who defend that it as an art. I don't. I like it but it's not an art form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/perhaps-i-mean-there-are-people-who-defend-that-it-as-an-art-i-don-t/) [Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/) > [The Palestinians cannot throw rockets and expect people not to defend themselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/the-palestinians-cannot-throw-rockets-and-expect-people-not-to-defend/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [Unfortunately, no matter how frivolous the lawsuit, you still, of course, have to pay people to defend you on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/unfortunately-no-matter-how-frivolous-the-lawsuit-you-still-of-course/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [If anyone interferes into the private life of two people, I will defend the right of those two people between their four walls. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jair-bolsonaro/if-anyone-interferes-into-the-private-life-of-two-people-i-will/) [Jair Bolsonaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jair-bolsonaro/) > [I cannot understand how sensible people still defend Facebook, YouTube and Twitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/recep-tayyip-erdogan/i-cannot-understand-how-sensible-people-still-defend-facebook-youtube/) [Recep Tayyip Erdogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/recep-tayyip-erdogan/) > [People defend nothing more violently than the pretenses they live by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-drury/people-defend-nothing-more-violently-than-the-pretenses-they-live-by/) [Allen Drury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-drury/) > [You don't leave people who can't defend themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/you-don-t-leave-people-who-can-t-defend-themselves/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [The best defense for any group of people is what we do to defend other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/the-best-defense-for-any-group-of-people-is-what-we-do-to-defend/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [I would be more angry if an animal were treated cruelly than people, because people can defend themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heart-evangelista/i-would-be-more-angry-if-an-animal-were-treated-cruelly-than-people/) [Heart Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heart-evangelista/) > [I consider the strongest people as those who can still defend and retain their happiness in the midst of serious difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/i-consider-the-strongest-people-as-those-who-can-still-defend-and/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) ## More by Leonard Peltier > [They still don't want to admit to the world that this isn't the best and the fairest and most equal justice system. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/they-still-don-t-want-to-admit-to-the-world-that-this-isn-t-the-best/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [I would like to say, historically, from the very beginning, our people have time and again expressed the need for people to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/i-would-like-to-say-historically-from-the-very-beginning-our-people/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [It is difficult for me to talk about some of these things without reliving the extreme emotions and loss one always feels for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/it-is-difficult-for-me-to-talk-about-some-of-these-things-without/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [My supporters and family have limited resources, very limited resources; but the FBI has the unlimited resources of the most powerful government in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/my-supporters-and-family-have-limited-resources-very-limited/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [You can't believe one thing and do another. What you believe and what you do are the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/you-can-t-believe-one-thing-and-do-another-what-you-believe-and-what/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [If you look at the statistics regarding Native Americans, you will see that most of the tribes since the 70s have improved their economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/if-you-look-at-the-statistics-regarding-native-americans-you-will-see/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [I, however, fear that at some future point there will possibly be concerted backlash against us because of our successes in business and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/i-however-fear-that-at-some-future-point-there-will-possibly-be/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [I don’t know how to save the world. I don’t have the answers or The Answer. I hold no secret knowledge as to how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/i-don-t-know-how-to-save-the-world-i-don-t-have-the-answers-or-the/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [Only one thing’s sadder than remembering you were once free, and that’s forgetting you were once free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/only-one-thing-s-sadder-than-remembering-you-were-once-free-and-that/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [A political prisoner is someone who is out fighting for his or her people's rights and freedom and is imprisoned for that alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/a-political-prisoner-is-someone-who-is-out-fighting-for-his-or-her/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [Silence,they say,is the voice of complicity. But silence is impossible. Silence screams. Silence is the message,just as doing nothing is an act. Let who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/silence-they-say-is-the-voice-of-complicity-but-silence-is-impossible/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [What Bill Clinton did to us was cruel. The White House gave my attorneys indications that there was a good chance for my clemency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/what-bill-clinton-did-to-us-was-cruel-the-white-house-gave-my/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [During that time period all of our tribes were suffering extremely from poverty and neglect. And the reason I say neglect is because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/during-that-time-period-all-of-our-tribes-were-suffering-extremely/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [My continued incarceration has served some good purposes. My defense committee has served as a training ground for other organizers in their defense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/my-continued-incarceration-has-served-some-good-purposes-my-defense/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [AIM in essence is a movement rather than just an organization. It is a manifestation of the desperation of our people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/aim-in-essence-is-a-movement-rather-than-just-an-organization-it-is-a/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) [Explore all 50 Leonard Peltier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) ## More Adept quotes > [You see, years ago I was just an ordinary bee minding my own business, smelling flowers all day, and occasionally picking up part-time work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-years-ago-i-was-just-an-ordinary-bee-minding-my-own-business/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [Obama is a very good actor. He knows how to play it. And he is very adept at creating this ''Obama'' - this character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-voight/obama-is-a-very-good-actor-he-knows-how-to-play-it-and-he-is-very/) [Jon Voight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-voight/) > [Becoming adept at the process of self inquiry and symbolic insight is a vital spiritual task that leads to the growth of faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/becoming-adept-at-the-process-of-self-inquiry-and-symbolic-insight-is/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [The traditional model for a company like Coca-Cola is to hire one big advertising agency and essentially outsource all of its creativity in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/the-traditional-model-for-a-company-like-coca-cola-is-to-hire-one-big/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) > [Knowledge and wisdom must go hand in hand. The adept will therefore endeavour to get on in knowledge as well as in wisdom, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-bardon/knowledge-and-wisdom-must-go-hand-in-hand-the-adept-will-therefore/) [Franz Bardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-bardon/) > [I realized that the artists who managed to fight through this recession have a better shot at longevity than most. The recession was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-edward/i-realized-that-the-artists-who-managed-to-fight-through-this/) [Mark Edward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-edward/) > [We humans have indeed always been adept at dovetailing our minds and skills to the shape of our current tools and aids. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-clark/we-humans-have-indeed-always-been-adept-at-dovetailing-our-minds-and/) Andy Clark > [“ADEPT ADAPTATION Potholes on the road of life sharpen our maneuverability skills Kamil Ali”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/adept-adaptation-potholes-on-the-road-of-life-sharpen-our/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [I'm blessed that I can leave it to the pros at work and red-carpet events, because I can't say I'm adept. Still, I'm definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becki-newton/i-m-blessed-that-i-can-leave-it-to-the-pros-at-work-and-red-carpet/) [Becki Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becki-newton/) > [To waste! You are unknown and unwanted, save by me. This, because you are fairly adept at the various embalming arts and you occasionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/to-waste-you-are-unknown-and-unwanted-save-by-me-this-because-you-are/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [“Energy manipulation took place completely in mind,same way believing in telepathy caused telepathic abilities to grow STRONGER.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-westover/energy-manipulation-took-place-completely-in-mind-same-way-believing/) [Christina Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-westover/) > [The bottom line is how do we best provide for the security of the traveling public in light of a determined enemy who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-bottom-line-is-how-do-we-best-provide-for-the-security-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm pretty adept with computers and Photoshop for my blog, and I found my style with a conversational voice and an image-ready column.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/i-m-pretty-adept-with-computers-and-photoshop-for-my-blog-and-i-found/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [You have to adapt to become adept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-dangoor/you-have-to-adapt-to-become-adept/) [Robert D Dangoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-dangoor/) > [Those who were adept and brave fellows I have made military commanders. 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