I agree that there are things that should be kept secret.

In my estimation, there has not been in American history a more important leak than Edward Snowden's release of NSA material – and that definitely includes the Pentagon Papers 40 years ago.

It's true that most people find it far more comfortable to trust an authority than to have their faith questioned.

Look, all administrations, all governments lie, all officials lie and nothing they say is to be believed. That's a pretty good rule.

We need the courage to face the truth about what we are doing in the world and act responsibly to change it.

But it is important always to keep in mind that the danger of harming humans is not connected only or even mainly with telling secrets, there can be great danger in keeping secrets.

You needn't think there is nothing you can do-you can tell the truth.

There should be at least one leak like the Pentagon Papers every year.

We were young, we were foolish, we were arrogant, but we were right.

It is a tribute to the American people that our leaders perceived that they had to lie to us, it is not a tribute to us that we were so easily misled.

This wholesale invasion of Americans’ and foreign citizens’ privacy does not contribute to our security; it puts in danger the very liberties we’re trying to protect.

The clearest version of vision, backed by the purest grade of greed is a ripen file of failure.

His eyes are so clear and blue that nothing but clichés enter my mind.

Theirs is not to make reply: Theirs is not to reason why: Theirs is but to do and die.

Each new epoch in life seems an encounter. There is a tussle and a cloud of dust, and we come out of it triumphant or crest-fallen, according as we have borne ourselves.

The home is where part of the family waits until the others are through with the car.

Fantasy is like jam. . . . You have to spread it on a solid piece of bread. If not, it remains a shapeless thing . . . out of which you can’t make anything.

Irrational barriers and ancient prejudices fall quickly when the question of survival itself is at stake.

We Americans are the ultimate innocents. We are forever desperate to believe that this time the government is telling us the truth.

The pursuit of your life is to come into [your] purpose. And the waste of your life is to miss that purpose.

It is wise to direct your anger towards problems - not people; to focus your energies on answers - not excuses.