--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was outed on July 14th, 2003, I…" description: "\"When I was outed on July 14th, 2003, I was, until that moment, covert. That means no one outside of a very small circle knew where I really worked.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/934/valerie-plame-5250_circle_when-i-was-outed-on-july-14th-2003-i-was_804651.png" --- # When I was outed on July 14th, 2003, I was, until that… ![“When I was outed on July 14th, 2003, I was, until that moment, covert. That means no one outside of a very small circle knew where I really worked.” quote by Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/934/valerie-plame-5250_circle_when-i-was-outed-on-july-14th-2003-i-was_804651.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/934/valerie-plame-5250_circle_when-i-was-outed-on-july-14th-2003-i-was_804651.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/934/valerie-plame-5250_circle_when-i-was-outed-on-july-14th-2003-i-was_804651.png) > “When I was outed on July 14th, 2003, I was, until that moment, covert. That means no one outside of a very small circle knew where I really worked.” [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reveals that before being exposed, her professional identity was hidden from most people. **In simple terms:** Hidden professional identity before exposure. Key Takeaway Maintain confidentiality until necessary. Themes secrecy exposure professional identity politics risk management Mood cautious serious Type political personal narrative When to use this quote - media relations - government work - legal proceedings - public speaking Key Concepts national security whistleblowing personal safety Questions to Reflect On - What are the costs of secrecy? - How should one prepare for potential exposure? A Different Perspective Disclosure can endanger personal and national security. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circle/) [Circle Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circle-knew-6152205/) [Covert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covert/) [Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Moment Covert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-covert-6152206/) [Outed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outed-3463281/) [Outed July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outed-july-6152204/) [Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small/) [Small Circle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-circle/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) ## Related quotes > [I've been outed as a Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-ve-been-outed-as-a-christian/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [I have never been outed by anyone but myself!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-knight/i-have-never-been-outed-by-anyone-but-myself/) [Jonathan Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-knight/) > [When computers came online and people found out people weren't mixing there was uproar, and outed. But now that hasn't happened. People don't seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erick-morillo/when-computers-came-online-and-people-found-out-people-weren-t-mixing/) [Erick Morillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erick-morillo/) > [When I was outed, it was like, That's done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/when-i-was-outed-it-was-like-that-s-done/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Any therapist will tell you that when you're ready, you will come out. To be outed means you weren't ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/any-therapist-will-tell-you-that-when-you-re-ready-you-will-come-out/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Everybody's angry with me because, apparently, I outed my cousin during an argument over a turkey leg. My cousin goes, 'You had the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/everybody-s-angry-with-me-because-apparently-i-outed-my-cousin-during/) [Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/) > [Why is being outed such a big deal? When I find out that someone's gay, my respect for them increases tenfold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-thompson/why-is-being-outed-such-a-big-deal-when-i-find-out-that-someone-s-gay/) [Scott Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-thompson/) > [“You know, people always look at that headline as me being "outed," but you can ask anyone, I couldn't even find a closet with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlyn-kane/you-know-people-always-look-at-that-headline-as-me-being-outed-but/) [Ashlyn Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlyn-kane/) > [I want the public to know how it feels, the fear of being scrutinized, of being outed. The fear of what happens when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fallon-fox/i-want-the-public-to-know-how-it-feels-the-fear-of-being-scrutinized/) [Fallon Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fallon-fox/) > [“It was only months after my time with Haaken that I realized he also didn’t care whether I was gay or not. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/it-was-only-months-after-my-time-with-haaken-that-i-realized-he-also/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [When we get to the point where a gay pro athlete is no longer forced to live in fear that he'll be shunned by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/when-we-get-to-the-point-where-a-gay-pro-athlete-is-no-longer-forced/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [“You totally just outed us to the criminals. -Ty to Zane”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/you-totally-just-outed-us-to-the-criminals-ty-to-zane/) [Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/) > [When I was outed by Perez Hilton as bisexual, I suddenly started being asked personal questions, which was really difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia/when-i-was-outed-by-perez-hilton-as-bisexual-i-suddenly-started-being/) [Sia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia/) > [Surprise! Surprise! An Academy Award nomination and suddenly you're outed? Did I mind? Oh, very, very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/surprise-surprise-an-academy-award-nomination-and-suddenly-you-re/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [“If some people are “outed,” are other people “inned”? Can we say that someone has been “besided” or “overed”?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/if-some-people-are-outed-are-other-people-inned-can-we-say-that/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## More by Valerie Plame > [My father was an air officer in the Second World War. My brother was a marine in Vietnam. When I was given this opportunity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/my-father-was-an-air-officer-in-the-second-world-war-my-brother-was-a/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [Hair and make-up always helps. I did always try to be well-groomed, professional at all times. Take your job seriously - but not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/hair-and-make-up-always-helps-i-did-always-try-to-be-well-groomed/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [The Cold War has ended. It's very simple. We are no longer living in a bipolar world. The chances that we will go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/the-cold-war-has-ended-it-s-very-simple-we-are-no-longer-living-in-a/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [We in no way are naive to think that just because Russia and the United States agree to reduce their arsenals, that everyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/we-in-no-way-are-naive-to-think-that-just-because-russia-and-the/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [I can tell you, all the intelligence services in the world were running my name through their databases to see did anyone by this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/i-can-tell-you-all-the-intelligence-services-in-the-world-were/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [These are issues we've been grappling with since the Constitution was written: how you hold your government to account for its words and deeds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/these-are-issues-we-ve-been-grappling-with-since-the-constitution-was/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [I think a nuclear detonation is society-altering in ways that other attacks, even as horrific as 9/11, are not. This isn't because we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/i-think-a-nuclear-detonation-is-society-altering-in-ways-that-other/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [One characteristic that I hope I never relinquish is an intense curiosity about the world around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/one-characteristic-that-i-hope-i-never-relinquish-is-an-intense/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [Joe was being called a liar and a traitor; I'm being accused of nepotism, of being a glorified secretary. The stresses that that places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/joe-was-being-called-a-liar-and-a-traitor-i-m-being-accused-of/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [The entire intelligence community is so bloated and so reliant on contractors. There's no question there's many tasks that make sense to outsource, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/the-entire-intelligence-community-is-so-bloated-and-so-reliant-on/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [For me, I thought I had the best job in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/for-me-i-thought-i-had-the-best-job-in-the-world/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [I have always been appalled by the depiction of female CIA operatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/i-have-always-been-appalled-by-the-depiction-of-female-cia-operatives/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [I think human intelligence is the only one that will actually tell you intent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/i-think-human-intelligence-is-the-only-one-that-will-actually-tell/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [There's no way you can possibly intellectually justify, 'Well, it's okay for the Western Judeo-Christian countries to have nuclear weapons, but not for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/there-s-no-way-you-can-possibly-intellectually-justify-well-it-s-okay/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [Of course the job has a lot of glamour. But it really is about being smarter than your average bear. Your mind is your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/of-course-the-job-has-a-lot-of-glamour-but-it-really-is-about-being/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) [Explore all 102 Valerie Plame quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) ## More Circle quotes > [All my life's a circle; But I can't tell you why; Season's spinning round again; The years keep rollin' by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapin/all-my-life-s-a-circle-but-i-can-t-tell-you-why-season-s-spinning/) [Harry Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapin/) > [I was really into the first 'Spider-Man' films with Tobey Maguire, so it's pretty cool how it all came full circle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-batalon/i-was-really-into-the-first-spider-man-films-with-tobey-maguire-so-it/) [Jacob Batalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-batalon/) > [I'm not a night owl, but for Glasto there was no chance I was going to miss a moment. I heard intriguing things about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-corrin/i-m-not-a-night-owl-but-for-glasto-there-was-no-chance-i-was-going-to/) [Emma Corrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-corrin/) > [Your circle should be small; surround yourself with people who have genuine love for you and want to see you win. I want them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-homie-quan/your-circle-should-be-small-surround-yourself-with-people-who-have/) [Rich Homie Quan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-homie-quan/) > [Life is like a circle it has no end point and every turn is a challenge did you notice it a circle has every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-is-like-a-circle-it-has-no-end-point-and-every-turn-is-a/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [As much as I moved to New York and tried to work in theater as much as I could - I developed a relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/as-much-as-i-moved-to-new-york-and-tried-to-work-in-theater-as-much/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [If you find yourself constantly stressing to keep up with the worldly demands from your friends, then it's obvious that you are in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-mbiaka/if-you-find-yourself-constantly-stressing-to-keep-up-with-the-worldly/) [Edmond Mbiaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmond-mbiaka/) > [There is an anatomical dysfunction in today's Lebanon, and we have been stuck in a socio-political vicious circle for decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucien-bourjeily/there-is-an-anatomical-dysfunction-in-today-s-lebanon-and-we-have/) [Lucien Bourjeily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucien-bourjeily/) > [It feels awesome to be back in the winners' circle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/it-feels-awesome-to-be-back-in-the-winners-circle/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [A circle is a round straight line with a hole in the middle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-circle-is-a-round-straight-line-with-a-hole-in-the-middle/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I loved theater and went to Circle in the Square's post-graduate program for two years and studied acting and directing and I loved it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-maccallum/i-loved-theater-and-went-to-circle-in-the-square-s-post-graduate/) [Martha MacCallum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-maccallum/) > [I have a great circle of support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-larson/i-have-a-great-circle-of-support/) [Jordan Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-larson/) > [If the world were an orange with 18 segments meeting at the top (the North Pole), roughly 8 of them would be in Russia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-shoumatoff/if-the-world-were-an-orange-with-18-segments-meeting-at-the-top-the/) [Alex Shoumatoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-shoumatoff/) > [“If you find yourself cutting corners, go in a circle instead”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-bellamacina/if-you-find-yourself-cutting-corners-go-in-a-circle-instead/) [Benny Bellamacina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-bellamacina/) > [Not everybody needs to be in your circle cause not all belong there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fugstickle/not-everybody-needs-to-be-in-your-circle-cause-not-all-belong-there/) [Fugstickle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fugstickle/) [Browse all 608 Circle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was outed on July 14th, 2003, I was, until that moment, covert. 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