---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sunshine is the greatest disinfectant"
description: "\"Sunshine is the greatest disinfectant\" — Louis D. Brandeis"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/louis-d-brandeis-5049_greatest_sunshine-is-the-greatest-disinfectant-31_3171789.png"
---

#  Sunshine is the greatest disinfectant

![“Sunshine is the greatest disinfectant” quote by Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/louis-d-brandeis-5049_greatest_sunshine-is-the-greatest-disinfectant-31_3171789.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/louis-d-brandeis-5049_greatest_sunshine-is-the-greatest-disinfectant-31_3171789.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/louis-d-brandeis-5049_greatest_sunshine-is-the-greatest-disinfectant-31_3171789.png)

> “Sunshine is the greatest disinfectant”

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

## About This Quote

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

Truth and openness expose corruption and promote accountability.

**In simple terms:** Transparency cleans corruption.

Key Takeaway

Promote openness.

Themes

ethics law society

Mood

cautious optimistic

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- government policy
- corporate governance
- journalism

Key Concepts

accountability anti‑corruption

Questions to Reflect On

- What systems need more transparency?
- How can openness be enforced?

A Different Perspective

Transparency alone may not change behavior.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Disinfectant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disinfectant-1826469/) [Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest/) [Greatest Disinfectant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-disinfectant-2359901/) [Sunshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunshine/) [Sunshine Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunshine-greatest-763224/)

## Related quotes

> [Light is the greatest disinfectant in nature and also in organizations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/light-is-the-greatest-disinfectant-in-nature-and-also-in-organizations/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [Lemons clean everything. It's the greatest disinfectant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/lemons-clean-everything-it-s-the-greatest-disinfectant/)

[Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/)

> [Look at Picasso. O’Neill. Tennessee Williams. Capote. Were these shiny happy people spreading sunshine? No. Only the greatest of personal demons can force you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/look-at-picasso-o-neill-tennessee-williams-capote-were-these-shiny/)

[Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/)

> [Sunshine is the best disinfectant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/sunshine-is-the-best-disinfectant/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [“In hermetic isolation, all kinds of bizarre and toxic ideas can fester. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and exposing a bad idea to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/in-hermetic-isolation-all-kinds-of-bizarre-and-toxic-ideas-can-fester/)

[Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/)

> [Humor itself is a great disinfectant. It enables people to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/humor-itself-is-a-great-disinfectant-it-enables-people-to-listen/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [I'm kind of a germ freak. When I get on a plane, I spray my seat and everything with Lysol Disinfectant Spray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-rowland/i-m-kind-of-a-germ-freak-when-i-get-on-a-plane-i-spray-my-seat-and/)

[Kelly Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-rowland/)

> [For all the cynicism about the media, it is a noble profession. Most enter it with a strong conviction that sunlight is the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-streeting/for-all-the-cynicism-about-the-media-it-is-a-noble-profession-most/)

[Wes Streeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-streeting/)

> [There is no disinfectant like success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/there-is-no-disinfectant-like-success/)

[Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/)

> [Citizens United said that transparency would be the disinfectant, but (c)(4)'s are warm, wet, moist incubators. There is no disinfectant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/citizens-united-said-that-transparency-would-be-the-disinfectant-but/)

[Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/)

> [Before I walk a mile in another person's shoes I spray them with disinfectant. . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-sutter/before-i-walk-a-mile-in-another-person-s-shoes-i-spray-them-with/)

[Rick Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-sutter/)

> [There's that old journalism rule that sunshine is the great disinfectant - which is how reporters bust their way into meetings and such all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-moehringer/there-s-that-old-journalism-rule-that-sunshine-is-the-great/)

[J. R. Moehringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-moehringer/)

> [Get hot water! Get some disinfectant! Get some iodine! -Lucy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brown-christmas/get-hot-water-get-some-disinfectant-get-some-iodine-lucy/)

[Charlie Brown Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brown-christmas/)

> [“Transparency is the great disinfectant!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ld/transparency-is-the-great-disinfectant/)

[LD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ld/)

> [Sunlight is the best disinfectant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/sunlight-is-the-best-disinfectant/)

[William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/)

## More by Louis D. Brandeis

> [Men feared witches and burned women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/men-feared-witches-and-burned-women/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [The goose that lays golden eggs has been considered a most valuable possession. But even more profitable is the privilege of taking the golden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been-considered-a-most-valuable/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Fear of serious injury cannot alone justify suppression of free speech and assembly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/fear-of-serious-injury-cannot-alone-justify-suppression-of-free/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [We gain nothing by trading the tyranny of capital for the tyranny of labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/we-gain-nothing-by-trading-the-tyranny-of-capital-for-the-tyranny-of/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the Government's purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/experience-should-teach-us-to-be-most-on-our-guard-to-protect-liberty/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill it teaches the whole people by example. Crime is contagious. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/our-government-is-the-potent-the-omnipresent-teacher-for-good-or-for/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [What are the American ideals? They are the development of the individual for his own and the common good; the development of the individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/what-are-the-american-ideals-they-are-the-development-of-the/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/most-of-the-things-worth-doing-in-the-world-had-been-declared/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [What I have desired to do is to make the people of Boston realize that the most important office, and the one which all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/what-i-have-desired-to-do-is-to-make-the-people-of-boston-realize/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/if-we-desire-respect-for-the-law-we-must-first-make-the-law/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Fear of serious injury alone cannot justify oppression of free speech and assembly. Men feared witches and burnt women. It is the function of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/fear-of-serious-injury-alone-cannot-justify-oppression-of-free-speech/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [I abhor averages. I like the individual case. A man may have six meals one day and none the next, making an average of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/i-abhor-averages-i-like-the-individual-case-a-man-may-have-six-meals/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Organisation can never be a substitute for initiative and for judgement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/organisation-can-never-be-a-substitute-for-initiative-and-for/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [Let no American imagine that Zionism is inconsistent with patriotism. Multiple loyalties are objectionable only if they are inconsistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/let-no-american-imagine-that-zionism-is-inconsistent-with-patriotism/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

> [“The protection guaranteed by the Amendments is much broader in scope. The makers of our Constitution undertook to secure conditions favorable to the pursuit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-protection-guaranteed-by-the-amendments-is-much-broader-in-scope/)

[Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

[Explore all 104 Louis D. Brandeis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/)

## More Greatest quotes

> [Imagination is the greatest nation in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/imagination-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/)

[Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/)

> [The last goal I ever scored in professional football was at Goodison Park - a glancing header for Aston Villa in a 1-0 win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/the-last-goal-i-ever-scored-in-professional-football-was-at-goodison/)

[Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/)

> [Shawn Michaels, to me and to so many people, is just the greatest in-ring performer of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cole/shawn-michaels-to-me-and-to-so-many-people-is-just-the-greatest-in/)

[Adam Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cole/)

> [The hard-working Mexican tries to get up here looking for opportunities because America's one of the greatest countries in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ruiz-jr/the-hard-working-mexican-tries-to-get-up-here-looking-for/)

[Andy Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ruiz-jr/)

> [The way the world underestimates me will be my greatest weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calista-flockhart/the-way-the-world-underestimates-me-will-be-my-greatest-weapon/)

[Calista Flockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calista-flockhart/)

> [I don't mind people want to think Muhammad is the greatest fighter around. Everybody wants to make him great because of his mouth, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-frazier/i-don-t-mind-people-want-to-think-muhammad-is-the-greatest-fighter/)

[Joe Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-frazier/)

> [“The world is witnessing one of the greatest frauds the Florida government has ever engaged in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-world-is-witnessing-one-of-the-greatest-frauds-the-florida/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [People used to say my son looked like a Mexican Biggie. And when he was first born, memories of Biggie... you know, we didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-evans/people-used-to-say-my-son-looked-like-a-mexican-biggie-and-when-he/)

[Faith Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-evans/)

> [My greatest work comes in the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-barry/my-greatest-work-comes-in-the-community/)

[Marion Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-barry/)

> [“The greatest faith is the willingness to ask in the first place, all evidence to the contrary. Faith not just in God, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cronin/the-greatest-faith-is-the-willingness-to-ask-in-the-first-place-all/)

[Justin Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cronin/)

> [The greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-greatest-of-all-crimes-are-the-wars-that-are-carried-on-by/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [One of the greatest of all sources of misery is comparing yourself to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/one-of-the-greatest-of-all-sources-of-misery-is-comparing-yourself-to/)

[Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/)

> [The greatest failure is the failure to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/the-greatest-failure-is-the-failure-to-try/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [To die in battle would be my greatest joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramzan-kadyrov/to-die-in-battle-would-be-my-greatest-joy/)

[Ramzan Kadyrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramzan-kadyrov/)

[Browse all 2,783 Greatest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Sunshine is the greatest disinfectant",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Louis D. Brandeis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/sunshine-is-the-greatest-disinfectant/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Greatest"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/sunshine-is-the-greatest-disinfectant/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/louis-d-brandeis-5049_greatest_sunshine-is-the-greatest-disinfectant-31_3171789.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/louis-d-brandeis-5049_greatest_sunshine-is-the-greatest-disinfectant-31_3171789.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/louis-d-brandeis-5049_greatest_sunshine-is-the-greatest-disinfectant-31_3171789.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sunshine is the greatest disinfectant” — Louis D. Brandeis",
                "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": "Louis D. Brandeis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Sunshine is the greatest disinfectant",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/sunshine-is-the-greatest-disinfectant/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/sunshine-is-the-greatest-disinfectant/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
