--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The important thing is that we maintain…" description: "\"The important thing is that we maintain plausible deniability.\" — Richard M. Nixon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c0/richard-m-nixon-727_important_the-important-thing-is-that-we-maintain_1084707.jpg" --- # The important thing is that we maintain plausible… ![“The important thing is that we maintain plausible deniability.” quote by Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c0/richard-m-nixon-727_important_the-important-thing-is-that-we-maintain_1084707.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c0/richard-m-nixon-727_important_the-important-thing-is-that-we-maintain_1084707.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c0/richard-m-nixon-727_important_the-important-thing-is-that-we-maintain_1084707.jpg) > “The important thing is that we maintain plausible deniability.” [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes the need to keep actions ambiguous enough to avoid clear responsibility. **In simple terms:** Maintain plausible deniability. Key Takeaway Consider consequences of ambiguous statements. Themes politics ethics communication Mood cautious critical Type political advice When to use this quote - diplomatic negotiations - legal investigations - media statements Key Concepts strategic ambiguity political maneuvering Questions to Reflect On - When is deniability justified? - What are the risks? A Different Perspective Ambiguity can erode accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) ## Related quotes > [“She had s feeling the adults were going to let the kids do whatever they could think of short of murder and mayhem.She remembered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-tolan-applewhite-s-end/she-had-s-feeling-the-adults-were-going-to-let-the-kids-do-whatever/) Stephanie tolan Applewhite s End > [“If it be not destiny, then surely there is plausible deniability, which in the parlance of politics is the same thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/if-it-be-not-destiny-then-surely-there-is-plausible-deniability-which/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [“Plausible deniability is not a moral code,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-james-quarles/plausible-deniability-is-not-a-moral-code/) [Dylan James Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-james-quarles/) > [You have plausible deniability, as they say in politics, as an author with movies. Because if the movie is terrible, you simply say they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/you-have-plausible-deniability-as-they-say-in-politics-as-an-author/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [“Under the doctrine of “plausible deniability” favored by Allen Dulles, the president was sometimes not told things it might be inconvenient or embarrassing for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-von-tunzelmann/under-the-doctrine-of-plausible-deniability-favored-by-allen-dulles/) [Alex von Tunzelmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-von-tunzelmann/) > [I think the most important thing to do is to recognize the fundamentally different circumstances of pursuing growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/i-think-the-most-important-thing-to-do-is-to-recognize-the/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > [The most important thing is a person. 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Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [The ultimate test of a nation's character is not how it responds to adversity in war but how it meets the challenge of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/the-ultimate-test-of-a-nation-s-character-is-not-how-it-responds-to/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [History is a pathetic junkyard of broken treaties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/history-is-a-pathetic-junkyard-of-broken-treaties/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I refuse to make a decision that somebody else can make. The first rule of leadership is to save yourself for the big decision.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-refuse-to-make-a-decision-that-somebody-else-can-make-the-first/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/those-who-hate-you-don-t-win-unless-you-hate-them-and-then-you/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I made my mistakes, but in all of my years in public life, I have never profited, never profited from public serviceI have earned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-made-my-mistakes-but-in-all-of-my-years-in-public-life-i-have-never/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I know you heard what you thought I said, but what I said isn't what I meant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-know-you-heard-what-you-thought-i-said-but-what-i-said-isn-t-what-i/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I want to be sure...that nothing is done on these veterans. Is that understood?...Is the word out? That they are not to touch em,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-want-to-be-sure-that-nothing-is-done-on-these-veterans-is-that/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [“Nations not possessing great power can indulge in the luxury of criticism of others; those possessing it have the responsibility of decision. Faced with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/nations-not-possessing-great-power-can-indulge-in-the-luxury-of/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [The peace we seek in the world is not the flimsy peace which is merely an interlude between wars, but a peace which can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/the-peace-we-seek-in-the-world-is-not-the-flimsy-peace-which-is/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) [Explore all 388 Richard M. 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