---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody should be too boastful or too…"
description: "\"Nobody should be too boastful or too proud about their security because there are people who have a major interest in cracking the security of networks..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/randall-l-stephenson-29411_cybersecurity_nobody-should-be-too-boastful-or-too-pro_387015.jpg"
---

#  Nobody should be too boastful or too proud about their…

![“Nobody should be too boastful or too proud about their security because there are people who have a major interest in cracking the security of networks, the security of companies.” quote by Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/randall-l-stephenson-29411_cybersecurity_nobody-should-be-too-boastful-or-too-pro_387015.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/randall-l-stephenson-29411_cybersecurity_nobody-should-be-too-boastful-or-too-pro_387015.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/randall-l-stephenson-29411_cybersecurity_nobody-should-be-too-boastful-or-too-pro_387015.jpg)

> “Nobody should be too boastful or too proud about their security because there are people who have a major interest in cracking the security of networks, the security of companies.”

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

## About This Quote

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

Overconfidence in security invites risk; humility and vigilance are essential because attackers constantly seek vulnerabilities.

**In simple terms:** Don't be overly proud of security.

Key Takeaway

Maintain humility and continuous vigilance.

Themes

security humility risk management

Mood

cautious serious

Type

practical professional

When to use this quote

- IT audits
- security training
- incident response planning
- continuous monitoring

Key Concepts

Cybersecurity organizational behavior

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance confidence and caution?
- What measures keep security robust?

A Different Perspective

Complacency can still lead to breaches despite vigilance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cracking Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cracking-security-3498551/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Networks Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/networks-security-3498552/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Proud Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud-security-3498550/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Security Companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security-companies-1717220/) [Security People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security-people-1054101/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/)

## Related quotes

> [I characterize myself as a retired hacker. I'm applying what I know to improve security at companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mitnick/i-characterize-myself-as-a-retired-hacker-i-m-applying-what-i-know-to/)

[Kevin Mitnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mitnick/)

> [In my case, I've always been interested in law enforcement. I've always dabbled in law enforcement in between gigs, quite honestly. Back before things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-reynolds/in-my-case-i-ve-always-been-interested-in-law-enforcement-i-ve-always/)

[Corey Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-reynolds/)

> [There's a kind of sick security some people get out of keeping away from people with disabilities. They are running away from any situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/there-s-a-kind-of-sick-security-some-people-get-out-of-keeping-away/)

[Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/)

> [Every prime minister... has the responsibility to provide security for his people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-olmert/every-prime-minister-has-the-responsibility-to-provide-security-for/)

[Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-olmert/)

> [Security people aren't brilliant; we aren't smarter than everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-stamos/security-people-aren-t-brilliant-we-aren-t-smarter-than-everyone-else/)

[Alex Stamos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-stamos/)

> [“Seeing the ease and security in which these people were living, I felt that this close resemblance of the sexes was after all what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells-4/seeing-the-ease-and-security-in-which-these-people-were-living-i-felt/)

[H.G.Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells-4/)

> [America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/america-will-never-seek-a-permission-slip-to-defend-the-security-of/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [Security people are often the black-and-white kind of people that I can't stand. I think the OpenBSD crowd is a bunch of masturbating monkeys,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/security-people-are-often-the-black-and-white-kind-of-people-that-i/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [The best security for people's doing their duty is that they should not know anything else to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-best-security-for-people-s-doing-their-duty-is-that-they-should/)

[Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/)

> [Sometimes airport security people recognize me. I'll go through the whole screening process and at the end they'll go, 'Hey, man, I really like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/sometimes-airport-security-people-recognize-me-i-ll-go-through-the/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [“The email began: “The security of people’s communications is very important to me,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-email-began-the-security-of-people-s-communications-is-very/)

[Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/)

> [“Private Security Organization comprise those actors who provide security for people and property under contract and for profit”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-henry-hills/private-security-organization-comprise-those-actors-who-provide/)

[Green Henry Hills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-henry-hills/)

> [“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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

## More by Randall L. Stephenson

> [When the iPhone came out, every CIO in America said, 'You're not bringing that into our corporate environment,' my CIO included.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/when-the-iphone-came-out-every-cio-in-america-said-you-re-not/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

> [E-mail, when it became mobile - what happened? Utilization of email went through the roof. Just pure Internet access and data - what happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/e-mail-when-it-became-mobile-what-happened-utilization-of-email-went/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

> [AT&amp;T is interested in anything that drives more bandwidth requirements, and Apple TV drives significant bandwidth, and the iPhone drives significant bandwidth, and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/at-t-is-interested-in-anything-that-drives-more-bandwidth/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

> [CNN is an American symbol of independent journalism and First Amendment free speech. My board and I are clear: CNN will remain completely independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/cnn-is-an-american-symbol-of-independent-journalism-and-first/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

> [I'm not asking you to be tolerant of each other. Tolerance is for cowards. Understand each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/i-m-not-asking-you-to-be-tolerant-of-each-other-tolerance-is-for/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

> [Our intent is to operate Time Warner as it operates today, with autonomy in its divisions, including the world-class creative talent and journalists that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/our-intent-is-to-operate-time-warner-as-it-operates-today-with/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

> [Get rid of the preferences and the special deductions and the loopholes... and invest in getting the tax rate to a competitive level so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/get-rid-of-the-preferences-and-the-special-deductions-and-the/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

> [This is probably going to surprise people, but if you were to do a scan around the globe on public policy concerning our industry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/this-is-probably-going-to-surprise-people-but-if-you-were-to-do-a/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

> [Over half of the traffic that flows over our networks is coming from video. As you think about a business that is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/over-half-of-the-traffic-that-flows-over-our-networks-is-coming-from/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

> [Speed is the No. 1 thing. Our core competency has been doing exactly this: buying companies and integrating them quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/speed-is-the-no-1-thing-our-core-competency-has-been-doing-exactly/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

> [I'll never forget the first time... I got a Blackberry smartphone, and I'm playing with it and I'm going, 'This is really important because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/i-ll-never-forget-the-first-time-i-got-a-blackberry-smartphone-and-i/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

> [We launched DirecTV Now. Our 5G evolution plans and improved spectrum position are paving the way for the next generation of super-fast mobile and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/we-launched-directv-now-our-5g-evolution-plans-and-improved-spectrum/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

> [Our communities are being destroyed by racial tension - and we're too polite to talk about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/our-communities-are-being-destroyed-by-racial-tension-and-we-re-too/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

> [We hire military veterans because they make great employees. They bring proven technical and leadership skills. They understand teamwork, and they're adaptable. Bottom line,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/we-hire-military-veterans-because-they-make-great-employees-they/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

> [We shook up the industry with our landscape-changing deal to acquire Time Warner, the logical next step in our strategy to bring together world-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/we-shook-up-the-industry-with-our-landscape-changing-deal-to-acquire/)

[Randall L. Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

[Explore all 18 Randall L. Stephenson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/)

## 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 should be too boastful or too proud about their security because there are people who have a major interest in cracking the security of networks, the security of companies.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Randall L. Stephenson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/nobody-should-be-too-boastful-or-too-proud-about-their-security/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cybersecurity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/nobody-should-be-too-boastful-or-too-proud-about-their-security/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/randall-l-stephenson-29411_cybersecurity_nobody-should-be-too-boastful-or-too-pro_387015.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/randall-l-stephenson-29411_cybersecurity_nobody-should-be-too-boastful-or-too-pro_387015.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/randall-l-stephenson-29411_cybersecurity_nobody-should-be-too-boastful-or-too-pro_387015.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Nobody should be too boastful or too proud about their security because there are people who have a major…” — Randall L. Stephenson",
                "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": "Randall L. Stephenson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-l-stephenson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Nobody should be too boastful or...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/nobody-should-be-too-boastful-or-too-proud-about-their-security/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-l-stephenson/nobody-should-be-too-boastful-or-too-proud-about-their-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
