--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have noticed, with much distress, the…" description: "\"I have noticed, with much distress, the excessive wartime activity of the investigating bureaus of Congress and the administration, with their impertin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e95/wendell-willkie-15521_activity_i-have-noticed-with-much-distress-the-ex_1336951.jpg" --- # I have noticed, with much distress, the excessive wartime… ![“I have noticed, with much distress, the excessive wartime activity of the investigating bureaus of Congress and the administration, with their impertinent and indecent searching out of the private lives and the past political beliefs of individuals.” quote by Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e95/wendell-willkie-15521_activity_i-have-noticed-with-much-distress-the-ex_1336951.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e95/wendell-willkie-15521_activity_i-have-noticed-with-much-distress-the-ex_1336951.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e95/wendell-willkie-15521_activity_i-have-noticed-with-much-distress-the-ex_1336951.jpg) > “I have noticed, with much distress, the excessive wartime activity of the investigating bureaus of Congress and the administration, with their impertinent and indecent searching out of the private lives and the past political beliefs of individuals.” [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote criticizes intrusive government investigations into private lives and political beliefs, especially during wartime. **In simple terms:** Government overreach into personal privacy. Key Takeaway Guard personal freedoms against excessive surveillance. Themes privacy government surveillance politics civil liberties Mood concerned critical Type political commentary When to use this quote - elections - public office - media scrutiny - whistleblowing Key Concepts constitutional rights political accountability state power Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance security and privacy? - When should government oversight stop? A Different Perspective Such investigations can be justified for national security, limiting absolute privacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Distress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/) [Distress Excessive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress-excessive-4504795/) [Excessive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excessive/) [Excessive Wartime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excessive-wartime-4504793/) [Indecent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indecent/) [Individuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuals/) [Investigating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investigating/) [Investigating Bureaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investigating-bureaus-4504794/) [Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Noticed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noticed/) [Noticed Distress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noticed-distress-4504797/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-beliefs/) [Private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private/) [Private lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-lives/) [Searching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/searching/) [Wartime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wartime/) [Wartime Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wartime-activity-4504796/) ## Related quotes > [It takes one time to show someone how you feel about them...it's called indecent exposure or whatever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/it-takes-one-time-to-show-someone-how-you-feel-about-them-it-s-called/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [Many people use the words 'death defying' or 'death wishing' when they talk about wire-walking. Many people have asked me: 'So do you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/many-people-use-the-words-death-defying-or-death-wishing-when-they/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [Nothing is so indecent that it cannot be said to another person if the proper words are used to convey it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-boccaccio/nothing-is-so-indecent-that-it-cannot-be-said-to-another-person-if/) [Giovanni Boccaccio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-boccaccio/) > [“In the very essence of poetry there is something indecent; A thing brought forth that we didn't know we had in us, So we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/in-the-very-essence-of-poetry-there-is-something-indecent-a-thing/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [Congress has repeatedly passed laws and otherwise raised a ruckus about indecent language on the broadcast airwaves used for radio and television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hundt/congress-has-repeatedly-passed-laws-and-otherwise-raised-a-ruckus/) [Reed Hundt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hundt/) > [“Would you let go? It’s indecent, you touching me like this.” “In-dee-sent?” “Indecent. Shameful. Would you please let go? It is my foot, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/would-you-let-go-it-s-indecent-you-touching-me-like-this-in-dee-sent/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [In a certain state it is indecent to live longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-a-certain-state-it-is-indecent-to-live-longer/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I don't see how an article of clothing can be indecent. A person, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-don-t-see-how-an-article-of-clothing-can-be-indecent-a-person-yes/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Wherever I see some mystique, be it virtue or family, faith or fatherland, there I must commit some indecent act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witold-gombrowicz/wherever-i-see-some-mystique-be-it-virtue-or-family-faith-or/) [Witold Gombrowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witold-gombrowicz/) > [“Decent is the last way I want you," she said, skimming her fingers over my stomach, my lower stomach. My lower lower stomach, AKA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/decent-is-the-last-way-i-want-you-she-said-skimming-her-fingers-over/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [I will keep that a secret as it was so indecent I doubt she was in her normal state of mind when she made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-will-keep-that-a-secret-as-it-was-so-indecent-i-doubt-she-was-in/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [“She can't wear that dress! It's indecent. Her ass is hangin' out." ... "Son, take my advice, you gotta get this girl in hand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/she-can-t-wear-that-dress-it-s-indecent-her-ass-is-hangin-out-son/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [No one should tolerate indecent behaviour; it's an absolute no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-shroff/no-one-should-tolerate-indecent-behaviour-it-s-an-absolute-no/) [Jackie Shroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-shroff/) > [There are certain times I don't want my picture taken. If my wife's stepping out of a car and it looks like it's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-darin/there-are-certain-times-i-don-t-want-my-picture-taken-if-my-wife-s/) [Bobby Darin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-darin/) > [“Our age knows better… What was formerly merely sickly now becomes indecent—it is indecent to be a Christian today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/our-age-knows-better-what-was-formerly-merely-sickly-now-becomes/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by Wendell Willkie > [For now more than ever, we must keep in the forefront of our minds the fact that whenever we take away the liberties of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/for-now-more-than-ever-we-must-keep-in-the-forefront-of-our-minds-the/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [It is, therefore, essential that we guard our own thinking and not be among those who cry out against prejudices applicable to themselves, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/it-is-therefore-essential-that-we-guard-our-own-thinking-and-not-be/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [The defense of our democracy against the forces that threaten it from without has made some of its failures to function at home glaringly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/the-defense-of-our-democracy-against-the-forces-that-threaten-it-from/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [Today it is becoming increasingly apparent to thoughtful Americans that we cannot fight the forces and ideas of imperialism abroad and maintain any form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/today-it-is-becoming-increasingly-apparent-to-thoughtful-americans/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [What a man needs to get ahead is a powerful enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/what-a-man-needs-to-get-ahead-is-a-powerful-enemy/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [If we want to talk about freedom, we must mean freedom for others as well as ourselves, and we must mean freedom for everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/if-we-want-to-talk-about-freedom-we-must-mean-freedom-for-others-as/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [Education is the mother of leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/education-is-the-mother-of-leadership/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [I am not interested in the support of anybody who stands for any form of prejudice as to anybody's race or religion. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/i-am-not-interested-in-the-support-of-anybody-who-stands-for-any-form/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [The modern airplane creates a new geographic dimension ... the world is small, the world is one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/the-modern-airplane-creates-a-new-geographic-dimension-the-world-is/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [A good catchword can obscure analysis for fifty years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/a-good-catchword-can-obscure-analysis-for-fifty-years/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [In addition, as citizens, we must fight in their incipient stages all movements by government or party or pressure groups that seek to limit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/in-addition-as-citizens-we-must-fight-in-their-incipient-stages-all/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [We must honestly face our relationship with Great Britain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/we-must-honestly-face-our-relationship-with-great-britain/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [A true world outlook is incompatible with a foreign imperialism, no matter how high-minded the governing country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/a-true-world-outlook-is-incompatible-with-a-foreign-imperialism-no/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [No man has a right in America to treat any other man "tolerantly" for tolerance is the assumption of superiority. Our liberties are equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/no-man-has-a-right-in-america-to-treat-any-other-man-tolerantly-for/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) > [American liberty is a religion. It is a thing of the spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/american-liberty-is-a-religion-it-is-a-thing-of-the-spirit/) [Wendell Willkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) [Explore all 43 Wendell Willkie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have noticed, with much distress, the excessive wartime activity of the investigating bureaus of Congress and the administration, with their impertinent and indecent searching out of the private lives and the past political beliefs of individuals.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wendell Willkie" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/i-have-noticed-with-much-distress-the-excessive-wartime-activity-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Activity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/i-have-noticed-with-much-distress-the-excessive-wartime-activity-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e95/wendell-willkie-15521_activity_i-have-noticed-with-much-distress-the-ex_1336951.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e95/wendell-willkie-15521_activity_i-have-noticed-with-much-distress-the-ex_1336951.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e95/wendell-willkie-15521_activity_i-have-noticed-with-much-distress-the-ex_1336951.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have noticed, with much distress, the excessive wartime activity of the investigating bureaus of Congress…” — Wendell Willkie", "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": "Wendell Willkie", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-willkie/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have noticed, with much distress,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/i-have-noticed-with-much-distress-the-excessive-wartime-activity-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-willkie/i-have-noticed-with-much-distress-the-excessive-wartime-activity-of/#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 } } ] } ```