Common Quote by Tom Stoppard
“What is the society we wish to protect? Is it the society of complete surveillance for the commonwealth? Is this the wealth we seek to have in common - optimal security at the cost of maximal surveillance?”
About This Quote
Source Play: “The Hard Problem”, 2015
The quote questions whether society should sacrifice privacy for security, prompting debate on surveillance versus liberty.
In simple terms: Surveillance vs security.
Key Takeaway
Balance privacy and safety.
Themes
ethics
surveillance
society
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy making
- technology ethics
- public debate
Key Concepts
liberty
security trade‑off
Questions to Reflect On
- What freedoms are worth protecting?
- How to ensure accountability?
A Different Perspective
Security can become oppressive.
![“The Constitution does not vest in Congress the authority to protect society from every bad act that might befall it…[I]f followed to its logical extreme, [this approach] would result in an unwarranted expansion of federal power.” quote by Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f68/clarence-thomas-7661_approach_the-constitution-does-not-vest-in-congre_86587.jpg)
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
