---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The third factor is the natural…"
description: "\"The third factor is the natural predisposition of bureaucracies, both governmental and private, to exploit secrecy to whatever degree they are licensed..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/ted-gup-21466_administration_the-third-factor-is-the-natural-predispo_3207355.jpg"
---

#  The third factor is the natural predisposition of…

![“The third factor is the natural predisposition of bureaucracies, both governmental and private, to exploit secrecy to whatever degree they are licensed to do so, and in this administration they're given virtually carte blanche.” quote by Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/ted-gup-21466_administration_the-third-factor-is-the-natural-predispo_3207355.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/ted-gup-21466_administration_the-third-factor-is-the-natural-predispo_3207355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/ted-gup-21466_administration_the-third-factor-is-the-natural-predispo_3207355.jpg)

> “The third factor is the natural predisposition of bureaucracies, both governmental and private, to exploit secrecy to whatever degree they are licensed to do so, and in this administration they're given virtually carte blanche.”

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

## About This Quote

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

Bureaucracies exploit secrecy, especially when given broad authority, leading to unchecked power.

**In simple terms:** Bureaucracies use secrecy to gain power.

Key Takeaway

Demand transparency and oversight.

Themes

bureaucracy secrecy power accountability

Mood

critical concerned

Type

analytical inquisitive

When to use this quote

- government oversight
- corporate governance
- whistleblowing
- public policy

Key Concepts

Political science ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- When is secrecy justified?
- How can oversight be effective?

A Different Perspective

Secrecy can be justified for security.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Bureaucracies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucracies/) [Bureaucracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucracy/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Secrecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy/)

## Related quotes

> [Gracie: "Don't give up, Blanche. Women don't do that. Look at Betsy Ross, Martha Washington-they didn't give up. Look at Nina Jones." Blanche Morton:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-allen/gracie-don-t-give-up-blanche-women-don-t-do-that-look-at-betsy-ross/)

[Gracie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-allen/)

> [EMILY's List members are deeply committed to electing pro-choice Democratic women whom we trust to stand up for our rights, treat us honestly, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-malcolm/emily-s-list-members-are-deeply-committed-to-electing-pro-choice/)

[Ellen Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-malcolm/)

> [When you wrote it didn't matter if hysteria sometimes came up in your face and voice (unless, of course, you let it find its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-yates/when-you-wrote-it-didn-t-matter-if-hysteria-sometimes-came-up-in-your/)

[Richard Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-yates/)

> [Blanche: No, I have the misfortune of being an English instructor. I attempt to instill a bunch of bobby-soxers and drugstore Romeos with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/blanche-no-i-have-the-misfortune-of-being-an-english-instructor-i/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [Love at first sight'some say misnaming Discovery of twinned helplessness Against the huge tug of procreation. But friendship at first sight? This also Catches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/love-at-first-sight-some-say-misnaming-discovery-of-twinned/)

[Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/)

> [ If \[Ho Chi Minh\] had had carte blanche over his movement, would the results of the war have been different? That is difficult to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-duiker/if-ho-chi-minh-had-had-carte-blanche-over-his-movement-would-the/)

[William J. Duiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-duiker/)

> [The primary factor that enables our government to peddle economic snake oil is the dollar's unique role as the world's reserve currency, and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/the-primary-factor-that-enables-our-government-to-peddle-economic/)

[Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/)

> [She remembered that once, when she was a little girl, she had seen a pretty young woman with golden hair down to her knees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-doman/she-remembered-that-once-when-she-was-a-little-girl-she-had-seen-a/)

[Regina Doman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-doman/)

> [And when children begin to use their reason, fathers and mothers should take great pains to fill their hearts with the fear of God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/and-when-children-begin-to-use-their-reason-fathers-and-mothers/)

[Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/)

> [We cannot allow our Republican party to be based on what Olympia Snowe and Ben Nelson or Blanche Lincoln may or may not do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-cannot-allow-our-republican-party-to-be-based-on-what-olympia/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [The point of departure for my creation was not primarily the destiny of the sixteen Carmelites of Compiègne but the figure of the young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrud-von-le-fort/the-point-of-departure-for-my-creation-was-not-primarily-the-destiny/)

[Gertrud von Le Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrud-von-le-fort/)

> [A miracle worker who can do more with less, pacify rival groups, endure chronic second guessing, tolerate low levels of support, process large volumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fullan/a-miracle-worker-who-can-do-more-with-less-pacify-rival-groups-endure/)

[Michael Fullan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fullan/)

> [Comedians have a huge carte blanche and the ability to get away with saying a lot of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/comedians-have-a-huge-carte-blanche-and-the-ability-to-get-away-with/)

[Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/)

> [Evil isn't beautiful on its own. You know?' 'Well, good people are sometimes ugly-' Blanche said at last. 'I don't know about that. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-doman/evil-isn-t-beautiful-on-its-own-you-know-well-good-people-are/)

[Regina Doman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-doman/)

> [ Stella: And when he comes back I cry on his lap like a baby.. \[she smiles to herself\] Blanche: I guess that is what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/stella-and-when-he-comes-back-i-cry-on-his-lap-like-a-baby-she-smiles/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

## More by Ted Gup

> [Whistleblowers is another aspect that needs to be addressed. We have to restore the protections of whistleblowers and also the encouragement and rewards. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/whistleblowers-is-another-aspect-that-needs-to-be-addressed-we-have/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

> [The press is going to have to learn anew that it's possible to work in an environment that is not so toxic and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/the-press-is-going-to-have-to-learn-anew-that-it-s-possible-to-work/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

> [If all these guys think that nothing is going to come out for 100 years, they're going to act a whole lot more boldly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/if-all-these-guys-think-that-nothing-is-going-to-come-out-for-100/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

> [It will be important to restore those provisions, those disclose provisions, those release provisions so that presidents are indeed held accountable and their information…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/it-will-be-important-to-restore-those-provisions-those-disclose/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

> [And fourthly there is a major shift in public opinion and attitude to accommodate to the post-9/11 mentality and the Bush administration's penchant for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/and-fourthly-there-is-a-major-shift-in-public-opinion-and-attitude-to/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

> [You have tens, hundreds of thousands of people in government, and just as many among contractors, who feel totally comfortable writing at the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/you-have-tens-hundreds-of-thousands-of-people-in-government-and-just/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

> [One of the principal factors fueling the proliferation of the abuse of secrecy and sensitive but unclassifieds is the administration's adherence to the unitary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/one-of-the-principal-factors-fueling-the-proliferation-of-the-abuse/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

> [I don't think the question is if should we have a shield law. I think the question is what kind of shield law we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/i-don-t-think-the-question-is-if-should-we-have-a-shield-law-i-think/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

> [I love the idea of a shield law; I don't know of any journalist who doesn't love the idea of a shield law. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/i-love-the-idea-of-a-shield-law-i-don-t-know-of-any-journalist-who/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

> [The level of trust is extraordinarily low and the level of suspicion extraordinarily high, and with good reason and on both sides. The press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/the-level-of-trust-is-extraordinarily-low-and-the-level-of-suspicion/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

> [If you are a reporter trying to find out what the hell's going on in government now, you have a devilish time. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/if-you-are-a-reporter-trying-to-find-out-what-the-hell-s-going-on-in/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

> [There's no faster way or surer way to consolidate power and disenfranchise critics than to operate in secret. So this plays squarely into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/there-s-no-faster-way-or-surer-way-to-consolidate-power-and/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

> [“He was a simple honest man. He never strayed, He never drank, he never smoked, and he never kissed a maid. And when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/he-was-a-simple-honest-man-he-never-strayed-he-never-drank-he-never/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

> [Every effort is made to control information. Secrecy is just one of the toggles on their control board. The mindset is in place, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/every-effort-is-made-to-control-information-secrecy-is-just-one-of/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

> [When you get new people in, you're going to have a breath of fresh air and there's going to be a window when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/when-you-get-new-people-in-you-re-going-to-have-a-breath-of-fresh-air/)

[Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

[Explore all 29 Ted Gup quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/)

## More Administration quotes

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/)

[Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/)

> [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/)

[David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/)

> [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/)

[Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/)

> [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/)

[Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/)

> [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/)

[Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/)

> [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/)

[Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/)

> [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/)

[Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/)

> [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/)

[Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/)

> [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/)

[Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/)

> [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/)

[Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/)

> [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/)

[Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/)

> [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/)

[Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/)

> [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-finally-complete-the-biometric-entry-exit-visa-tracking/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

[Browse all 1,855 Administration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The third factor is the natural predisposition of bureaucracies, both governmental and private, to exploit secrecy to whatever degree they are licensed to do so, and in this administration they're given virtually carte blanche.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ted Gup"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/the-third-factor-is-the-natural-predisposition-of-bureaucracies-both/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Administration"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/the-third-factor-is-the-natural-predisposition-of-bureaucracies-both/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/ted-gup-21466_administration_the-third-factor-is-the-natural-predispo_3207355.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/ted-gup-21466_administration_the-third-factor-is-the-natural-predispo_3207355.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/ted-gup-21466_administration_the-third-factor-is-the-natural-predispo_3207355.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The third factor is the natural predisposition of bureaucracies, both governmental and private, to exploit…” — Ted Gup",
                "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": "Ted Gup",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The third factor is the natural...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/the-third-factor-is-the-natural-predisposition-of-bureaucracies-both/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/the-third-factor-is-the-natural-predisposition-of-bureaucracies-both/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
