--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For some, the very act of intelligence…" description: "\"For some, the very act of intelligence gathering seems illegitimate when applied to the crime of terrorism.\" — Raymond Kelly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/raymond-kelly-14990_act_for-some-the-very-act-of-intelligence-ga_730484.png" --- # For some, the very act of intelligence gathering seems… ![“For some, the very act of intelligence gathering seems illegitimate when applied to the crime of terrorism.” quote by Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/raymond-kelly-14990_act_for-some-the-very-act-of-intelligence-ga_730484.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/raymond-kelly-14990_act_for-some-the-very-act-of-intelligence-ga_730484.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/raymond-kelly-14990_act_for-some-the-very-act-of-intelligence-ga_730484.png) > “For some, the very act of intelligence gathering seems illegitimate when applied to the crime of terrorism.” [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questions the legitimacy of intelligence work when targeting terrorism. **In simple terms:** Intelligence gathering can seem unethical. Key Takeaway Weigh moral implications of security actions. Themes security ethics terrorism Mood critical analytical Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy making - surveillance oversight - public debate - legal frameworks Key Concepts intelligence ethics law enforcement civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - Is intelligence always justified? - How can oversight be improved? A Different Perspective Balancing safety and privacy is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act/) [Applied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applied/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crime Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime-terrorism-868813/) [Gathering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gathering/) [Gathering Illegitimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gathering-illegitimate-5723658/) [Illegitimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegitimate/) [Illegitimate Applied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegitimate-applied-5723659/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligence gathering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-gathering/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Some](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/some/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) ## Related quotes > [In Kenya, crime and terrorism are deeply linked, not least by the failure of successive Kenyan governments to control either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-foden/in-kenya-crime-and-terrorism-are-deeply-linked-not-least-by-the/) [Giles Foden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-foden/) > [Like crime, terrorism is a fact of life. I grew up in Israel, where every unattended bag was a suspected bomb; when my family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yochai-benkler/like-crime-terrorism-is-a-fact-of-life-i-grew-up-in-israel-where/) [Yochai Benkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yochai-benkler/) > [The U.K. is at the heart of intelligence gathering with our allies to call out hostile activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/the-u-k-is-at-the-heart-of-intelligence-gathering-with-our-allies-to/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [War on terror is far less of a military operation and far more of an intelligence-gathering, law-enforcement operation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/war-on-terror-is-far-less-of-a-military-operation-and-far-more-of-an/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [If we had complete knowledge, you wouldn't need any intelligence gathering whatsoever. The president isn't god. We do have intelligence gathering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/if-we-had-complete-knowledge-you-wouldn-t-need-any-intelligence/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Our failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq thus far has been deeply troubling, and our intelligence-gathering process needs thorough and unbiased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-schiff/our-failure-to-find-weapons-of-mass-destruction-in-iraq-thus-far-has/) [Adam Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-schiff/) > [“The dirty little secret of the intelligence-gathering job is that information doesn’t just want to be free—it wants to hang out on street corners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/the-dirty-little-secret-of-the-intelligence-gathering-job-is-that/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“The goal of Combined Intelligence Objectives Subcommittee was to investigate all things related to German science. Target types ran the gamut: radar, missiles, aircraft,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/the-goal-of-combined-intelligence-objectives-subcommittee-was-to/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [In short, the hunt for bin Laden could not have been accomplished without every form of American intelligence-gathering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/in-short-the-hunt-for-bin-laden-could-not-have-been-accomplished/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [We always monitor the flow of information, intelligence, threat streams to see whether we have any indication there's some imminent. We work hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/we-always-monitor-the-flow-of-information-intelligence-threat-streams/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [“Mission One is the meeting with Zsinj. Face commands and has chosen Dia and Kell to accompany him. This is all intelligence gathering, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/mission-one-is-the-meeting-with-zsinj-face-commands-and-has-chosen/) [Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/) > [I delivered a clear and forceful message that although we recognize Russia's intelligence gathering will sometimes take place even if we don't like it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-delivered-a-clear-and-forceful-message-that-although-we-recognize/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Learning anything proved to be difficult. Impossible. First the men were busy setting up camp, tending the horses, making a larger fire. They did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/learning-anything-proved-to-be-difficult-impossible-first-the-men/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [The United States has the best intelligence-gathering operation in the world. We should provide a greater level of training and assistance to the E.U.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/the-united-states-has-the-best-intelligence-gathering-operation-in/) [Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/) > [“We decided to go back to basics and put the frighteners on some snouts." "Really?" "We adopted a proactive intelligence-gathering policy utilising appropriate stakeholders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/we-decided-to-go-back-to-basics-and-put-the-frighteners-on-some/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) ## More by Raymond Kelly > [I think one of the biggest scams in law enforcement is the monitor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/i-think-one-of-the-biggest-scams-in-law-enforcement-is-the-monitor/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [Since 9/11, some of the most violent terrorists we've encountered were radicalized or recruited at universities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/since-9-11-some-of-the-most-violent-terrorists-we-ve-encountered-were/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [I don't watch cop movies much. I TiVo shows. I watch every Larry David show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/i-don-t-watch-cop-movies-much-i-tivo-shows-i-watch-every-larry-david/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [No other agency is scrutinized like the police. Everything we do is in a goldfish bowl. We are not the most popular people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/no-other-agency-is-scrutinized-like-the-police-everything-we-do-is-in/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [New York is safer than it has been - and it's getting safer. But it's never safe. As the financial and communications capital of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/new-york-is-safer-than-it-has-been-and-it-s-getting-safer-but-it-s/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [I think the American public can accept the fact if you tell them that every time you pick up the phone it's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/i-think-the-american-public-can-accept-the-fact-if-you-tell-them-that/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that if you stop or curtail stop-and-frisk, or if cops are reluctant to do it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/it-doesn-t-take-a-brain-surgeon-to-figure-out-that-if-you-stop-or/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [I think it's only natural to want to look good. I enjoy good clothes, so 18 years ago I moved to having custom-made suits.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/i-think-it-s-only-natural-to-want-to-look-good-i-enjoy-good-clothes/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [If terrorists aren't limited by borders and boundaries, we can't be, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/if-terrorists-aren-t-limited-by-borders-and-boundaries-we-can-t-be/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [All terrorism is theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/all-terrorism-is-theater/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [As a city, we have to face the reality that New York's minority communities experience a disproportionate share of violent crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/as-a-city-we-have-to-face-the-reality-that-new-york-s-minority/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [I like music, a lot of different types of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/i-like-music-a-lot-of-different-types-of-music/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [When I had the job of police commissioner, 20 years ago, I was more sensitive, more cognizant of complaints and concerned about public opinion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/when-i-had-the-job-of-police-commissioner-20-years-ago-i-was-more/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [Consensus building doesn't necessarily fit with my experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/consensus-building-doesn-t-necessarily-fit-with-my-experience/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [I don't think I have the demeanor to be a politician. I'm used to making decisions and to a certain extent being in charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/i-don-t-think-i-have-the-demeanor-to-be-a-politician-i-m-used-to/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) [Explore all 44 Raymond Kelly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) ## More Act quotes > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Teachers' unions don't act in the interest of most teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/teachers-unions-don-t-act-in-the-interest-of-most-teachers/) [Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [People take years learning how to act; it's a skill, not just a job. If I tried it out and thought I'd be OK,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-take-years-learning-how-to-act-it-s-a-skill-not-just-a-job-if/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/) [Vashti Quiroz-Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vashti-quiroz-vega/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I have no interest in watching myself act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wesley/i-have-no-interest-in-watching-myself-act/) [Paul Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wesley/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I do believe some people can naturally act and don't know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-do-believe-some-people-can-naturally-act-and-don-t-know-it/) [Andrea 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