QuoteProject
Global security can be formed or threatened by heads of state whose wisdom, folly and obsessions shape global events. But often it is the security practitioners, those rarely in the headlines but whose craft and energy quietly break new ground, who keep us safe or put us in peril.
Michael Hayden
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Heads of state can influence global security, but the true impact often comes from unnoticed security practitioners.

This quote emphasizes the crucial role of security practitioners in maintaining global safety, suggesting that while political leaders are often in the spotlight, it is the dedicated professionals behind the scenes who truly affect our security. Their expertise and commitment can either protect us or expose us to danger, highlighting the importance of recognizing their contributions to global events.

Themes

SecurityLeadershipWisdomProfessionalsGlobal

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech on the importance of security professionals during a conference.

More from Michael Hayden

People have a right to privacy, but they also have a right to live. Fundamentally, we need cybersecurity and need to secure communications as well.
Michael HaydenRead
Al Qaida changes; Al Qaida adapts. We have to adapt as well. We rely on resources to do that. Reducing resources beyond a certain point will make us less able to adapt as our enemy adapts.
Michael HaydenRead
Presidents get to decide how their intelligence is served up to them, and it's the job of intelligence to adjust.
Michael HaydenRead
The question is how much of your privacy and your convenience and your commerce do you want your nation's security apparatus to squeeze in order to keep you safe? And it is a choice that we have to make.
Michael HaydenRead
American political elites feel very empowered to criticize the American intelligence community for not doing enough when they feel in danger, and as soon as we've made them feel safe again, they feel equally empowered to complain that we're doing too much.
Michael HaydenRead

Similar quotes

For a prince should have two fears: one, internal concerning his subjects; the other, external, concerning foreign powers. From the latter he can always defend himself by his good troops and friends; and he will always have good friends if he has good troops.
Niccolo MachiavelliRead
Nothing can be made except by makers, nothing can be managed except by managers. Money cannot make anything and money cannot manage anything.
Henry FordRead
Your position never gives you the right to command. It only imposes on you the duty of so living your life that others can receive your orders without being humiliated.
Dag HammarskjoldRead
American political scions evoke a central contradiction in our thinking. We believe - or say we do - in nurture, not nature. Yet we are comforted by the aristocratic notion that leadership might run in the bloodlines.
Michael BeschlossRead
We believe in people executing their role and caring about the team more than anything individually
Gregg PopovichRead
We are stubborn on vision. We are flexible on details.
Jeff BezosRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.

Quote by Michael Hayden | QuoteProject