Civil rights Quote by William O. Douglas
““These examples and many others demonstrate an alarming trend whereby the privacy and dignity of our citizens is being whittled away by sometimes imperceptible steps. Taken individually, each step may be of little consequence. But when viewed as a whole, there begins to emerge a society quite unlike any we have seen -- a society in which government may intrude into the secret regions of man's life at will." [ Osborn v. United States , 385 U.S. 323, 343 (1966) (dissenting)]””
About This Quote
Source Court Opinion: Osborn v. United States, Dissent, 1966
Gradual erosion of privacy through small, often unnoticed governmental actions can accumulate into pervasive intrusion.
In simple terms: Small privacy losses add up to big threats.
Key Takeaway
Guard privacy rights vigilantly.
Themes
privacy
government
society
rights
surveillance
Mood
cautious
concerned
Type
legal
political
When to use this quote
- legislation drafting
- public policy
- personal data protection
- civil activism
Key Concepts
civil liberties
incremental erosion
state power
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we detect subtle privacy threats?
- What safeguards can prevent cumulative loss?
A Different Perspective
Even minor intrusions can normalize larger violations.
![“We are rapidly entering the age of no privacy, where everyone is open to surveillance at all times; where there are no secrets from government." [ Osborn v. United States , 385 U.S. 323, 341 (1966) (dissenting)]” quote by William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/48a/william-o-douglas-2931_cybersecurity_we-are-rapidly-entering-the-age-of-no-pr_3029383.jpg)
![“The privacy and dignity of our citizens [are] being whittled away by sometimes imperceptible steps. Taken individually, each step may be of little consequence. But when viewed as a whole, there begins to emerge a society quite unlike any we have seen -- a society in which government may intrude…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/239/anonymous-1_citizens_the-privacy-and-dignity-of-our-citizens_1429472.jpg)
