--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When information which properly belongs…" description: "\"When information which properly belongs to the public is systematically withheld by those in power, the people soon become ignorant of their own affair..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/richard-m-nixon-727_affair_when-information-which-properly-belongs_762945.jpg" --- # When information which properly belongs to the public is… ![“When information which properly belongs to the public is systematically withheld by those in power, the people soon become ignorant of their own affairs, distrustful of those who manage them, and -- eventually -- incapable of determining their own destinies.” quote by Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/richard-m-nixon-727_affair_when-information-which-properly-belongs_762945.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/richard-m-nixon-727_affair_when-information-which-properly-belongs_762945.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/richard-m-nixon-727_affair_when-information-which-properly-belongs_762945.jpg) > “When information which properly belongs to the public is systematically withheld by those in power, the people soon become ignorant of their own affairs, distrustful of those who manage them, and -- eventually -- incapable of determining their own destinies.” [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. When those in power hide information that belongs to the public, citizens lose knowledge, trust, and ability to shape their future. **In simple terms:** Secrecy erodes public knowledge and agency. Key Takeaway Demand transparency and civic education. Themes politics information trust citizen empowerment Mood cautious concerned Type political critical When to use this quote - elections - community meetings - public hearings - media consumption Key Concepts democracy media literacy accountability Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens verify information? - What mechanisms ensure accountability? A Different Perspective Power can manipulate narratives despite transparency efforts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Affairs Distrustful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affairs-distrustful-5913217/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Distrustful Manage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distrustful-manage-5913219/) [Eventually Incapable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eventually-incapable-5913218/) [Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant/) [Ignorant Affairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant-affairs-5913215/) [Incapable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incapable/) [Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) [Manage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manage/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Secrecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy/) [Systematically Withheld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/systematically-withheld-5913216/) ## Related quotes > [“You can never let your compassion stand in the way of justice because when you do, other people get hurt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/you-can-never-let-your-compassion-stand-in-the-way-of-justice-because/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [With a woman, always make good use of a secret. She will be proportionally grateful to you, like a scoundrel who grants his respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/with-a-woman-always-make-good-use-of-a-secret-she-will-be/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Who owns Cross Creek? 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Nixon > [I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is opposed to every instinct in my body. But as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-have-never-been-a-quitter-to-leave-office-before-my-term-is/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I have earned every cent. And in all of my years of public life I have never obstructed justice,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-have-earned-every-cent-and-in-all-of-my-years-of-public-life-i-have/) [Richard M. 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