--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here's the bottom line: The secret world…" description: "\"“Here's the bottom line: The secret world of intelligence--at least in the United States of America--represents everything wrong with the government, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/robert-david-steele-25315_bottom-line_here-s-the-bottom-line-the-secret-world_240007.jpg" --- # Here's the bottom line: The secret world of… ![“Here's the bottom line: The secret world of intelligence--at least in the United States of America--represents everything wrong with the government, the industrial era, our financial-economic system, and our ethics.” quote by Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/robert-david-steele-25315_bottom-line_here-s-the-bottom-line-the-secret-world_240007.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/robert-david-steele-25315_bottom-line_here-s-the-bottom-line-the-secret-world_240007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/robert-david-steele-25315_bottom-line_here-s-the-bottom-line-the-secret-world_240007.jpg) > ““Here's the bottom line: The secret world of intelligence--at least in the United States of America--represents everything wrong with the government, the industrial era, our financial-economic system, and our ethics.”” [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intelligence agencies embody systemic failures across government, industry, finance, and ethics. **In simple terms:** Intelligence reflects deep societal flaws. Key Takeaway Question the role of intelligence in society. Themes government intelligence corruption Mood skeptical analytical Type political critical When to use this quote - policy reform - public oversight - media scrutiny Key Concepts systemic failure ethics power Questions to Reflect On - How can accountability be increased? - What reforms are realistic? A Different Perspective Not all agencies are equally corrupt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bottom line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) [Economic system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-system/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Transparency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transparency/) ## Related quotes > [Happy 4th of July to someone who represents everything that is wrong with America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happy-4th-of-july-to-someone-who-represents-everything-that-is-wrong/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Education, the press, politics, religion—in a word, all the great forces in the world—are at present on the side of irrationality; they are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/education-the-press-politics-religion-in-a-word-all-the-great-forces/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Betrayal, in one form or another, is at the very heart of the world of intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-powers/betrayal-in-one-form-or-another-is-at-the-very-heart-of-the-world-of/) [Thomas Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-powers/) > [“CISSUS had become the first OWI—a One World Intelligence. But it wouldn’t be the last. Several others followed. VIRGIL. ZEUS. EINSTEIN. FENRIS. NINIGI. VOHU…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-robert-cargill/cissus-had-become-the-first-owi-a-one-world-intelligence-but-it/) [C. Robert Cargill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-robert-cargill/) > [“We humans only exist in this world, because of our intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/detlev-h-chmelarz/we-humans-only-exist-in-this-world-because-of-our-intelligence/) Detlev H. Chmelarz > [ Of course, there \[in China\] has to be chaos. It has to be crazy, and I don't think there's anything wrong about it except… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/of-course-there-in-china-has-to-be-chaos-it-has-to-be-crazy-and-i-don/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [I was reluctant to be critical of the United States because I thought the United States could do no wrong; that the government could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kandel/i-was-reluctant-to-be-critical-of-the-united-states-because-i-thought/) [Eric Kandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kandel/) > [You know something is wrong when the government declares opening someone else's mail is a felony but your internet activity is fair game for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-something-is-wrong-when-the-government-declares-opening/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“They might pay you to vote for them, but having a wrong government in place. You pay it with your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/they-might-pay-you-to-vote-for-them-but-having-a-wrong-government-in/) De philosopher DJ Kyos > [People know something has gone terribly wrong with our government and it has gotten so far off track. But people also know that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/people-know-something-has-gone-terribly-wrong-with-our-government-and/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [There is something wrong in a government where they who do the most have the least. There is something wrong when honesty wears a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-something-wrong-in-a-government-where-they-who-do-the-most/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything goes wrong for a government which is going wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-crossman/everything-goes-wrong-for-a-government-which-is-going-wrong/) [Richard Crossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-crossman/) > [Human beings have a right to change their consciousness, and it is unconscionable and absolutely wrong for any government or any person to stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/human-beings-have-a-right-to-change-their-consciousness-and-it-is/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [I could not move them. They would not even agree to a modification, of the ruling (banning the Rand vaccine), which would at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-young/i-could-not-move-them-they-would-not-even-agree-to-a-modification-of/) [Stephen Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-young/) > [There's a million things wrong with government that need to get fixed, but none of its ever going to get fixed unless we start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-harrison/there-s-a-million-things-wrong-with-government-that-need-to-get-fixed/) [Rick Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-harrison/) ## More by Robert David Steele > [“As our technological capacities continue to increase and our environment becomes ever more fragile and endangered, we find that changes to the Earth that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/as-our-technological-capacities-continue-to-increase-and-our/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) > [“I am not alone in the conviction that real, lasting national security can best be obtained through complete transparency of government, business, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/i-am-not-alone-in-the-conviction-that-real-lasting-national-security/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) > [“I will say that again in a different way: the persistent unethical and ignorant emphasis on secrecy and on making decisions for partisan advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/i-will-say-that-again-in-a-different-way-the-persistent-unethical-and/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) > [“No one wants to be poor. In my view, and the view of many authors who have focused on poverty and practical solutions to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/no-one-wants-to-be-poor-in-my-view-and-the-view-of-many-authors-who/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) > [“Integrity, in my view, starts with the individual human being and grows in a compounded manner from there. The citizen must be an 'intelligence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/integrity-in-my-view-starts-with-the-individual-human-being-and-grows/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) > [“This lack of accurate, trustworthy information about the true cost of any given policy, product, service, or behavior is paralyzing all action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/this-lack-of-accurate-trustworthy-information-about-the-true-cost-of/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) > [“When we relate and share knowledge authentically, this places us in a state of grace, a state of 'win-win' harmony with all others, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/when-we-relate-and-share-knowledge-authentically-this-places-us-in-a/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) > [“In order for us to live within this finely balanced constellation of complex systems, in order for the Earth to show resilience and last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/in-order-for-us-to-live-within-this-finely-balanced-constellation-of/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) > [“There is nothing wrong with the United States--or the world at large--that cannot be stabilized and reconstructed by restoring the intelligence and integrity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-the-united-states-or-the-world-at-large/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) > [“Put in the bluntest possible terms, what I discovered was that the U.S. secret intelligence community was collecting only information it considered secret, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/put-in-the-bluntest-possible-terms-what-i-discovered-was-that-the-u-s/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) > [“Liberation technology creates wealth, and open-source technology creates wealth. In both instances the 'center of gravity' for dramatic change toward resilience and sustainability is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/liberation-technology-creates-wealth-and-open-source-technology/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) > [Public agency is emergent, and the ability of the public to literally put any bank or corporation out of business overnight is looming. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/public-agency-is-emergent-and-the-ability-of-the-public-to-literally/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) > [“I realized in 1988 that my life as a spy specializing in secrets was not only unproductive, it was in sharp opposition to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/i-realized-in-1988-that-my-life-as-a-spy-specializing-in-secrets-was/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) > [Complexity demands resilience, and that's what panarchy offers. Resilience in the face of complexity is a challenge even when you apply rigorous intelligence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/complexity-demands-resilience-and-that-s-what-panarchy-offers/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) > [“The bottom line is that our government is not intelligent about how it pursues the public interest, because its decisions are not informed decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/the-bottom-line-is-that-our-government-is-not-intelligent-about-how/) [Robert David Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) [Explore all 23 Robert David Steele quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/) ## More Bottom line quotes > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [Cheer up. You're not going to be single forever. Bottom line is, you're young. Don't base your future on your past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cheer-up-you-re-not-going-to-be-single-forever-bottom-line-is-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I plead with my Moonlight fans to give this show a chance if they let me give it a chance. I can’t do Moonlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-plead-with-my-moonlight-fans-to-give-this-show-a-chance-if-they-let/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. At the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-in-the-professional-level-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [The political satirist usually votes against their own interests, but the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/the-political-satirist-usually-votes-against-their-own-interests-but/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [I'm very grateful to be where I'm at and be able to play. That's really the bottom line for me. Survival and being able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/i-m-very-grateful-to-be-where-i-m-at-and-be-able-to-play-that-s/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Bottom line is, work ethic equals dreams, and I am walking proof that that's a fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diamond-dallas-page/bottom-line-is-work-ethic-equals-dreams-and-i-am-walking-proof-that/) [Diamond Dallas Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diamond-dallas-page/) > [One of two things when the guy you're dating isn't really ready to commit. He's an a\*\*hole and he's cheating on you; bottom line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-catherwood/one-of-two-things-when-the-guy-you-re-dating-isn-t-really-ready-to/) Michael Catherwood > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you look at the statistics, I genuinely understand why when we go to a production company or a broadcaster, and they say our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joivan-wade/if-you-look-at-the-statistics-i-genuinely-understand-why-when-we-go/) [Joivan Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joivan-wade/) > [With a reality show, the bottom line is, there's no plot; there's no finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-gosselin/with-a-reality-show-the-bottom-line-is-there-s-no-plot-there-s-no/) [Kate Gosselin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-gosselin/) > [Two to 4% of cancers respond to chemotherapy…The bottom line is for a few kinds of cancer chemo is a life extending procedure-Hodgkin's disease,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-w-moss/two-to-4-of-cancers-respond-to-chemotherapy-the-bottom-line-is-for-a/) [Ralph W. Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-w-moss/) > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Browse all 942 Bottom line quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Here's the bottom line: The secret world of intelligence--at least in the United States of America--represents everything wrong with the government, the industrial era, our financial-economic system, and our ethics.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert David Steele" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/here-s-the-bottom-line-the-secret-world-of-intelligence-at-least-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bottom line" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/here-s-the-bottom-line-the-secret-world-of-intelligence-at-least-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/robert-david-steele-25315_bottom-line_here-s-the-bottom-line-the-secret-world_240007.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/robert-david-steele-25315_bottom-line_here-s-the-bottom-line-the-secret-world_240007.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/robert-david-steele-25315_bottom-line_here-s-the-bottom-line-the-secret-world_240007.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Here's the bottom line: The secret world of intelligence--at least in the United States of…” — Robert David Steele", "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": "Robert David Steele", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-david-steele/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Here's the bottom line: The secret...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/here-s-the-bottom-line-the-secret-world-of-intelligence-at-least-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-david-steele/here-s-the-bottom-line-the-secret-world-of-intelligence-at-least-in/#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 } } ] } ```