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Secrecy is for losers. . . . It is time to dismantle government secrecy, this most persuasive of Cold War-era regulations. It is time to begin building the supports for the era of openness that is already upon us.
Daniel Patrick Moynihan
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Secrecy undermines democracy and transparency, calling for an era of openness.

This quote emphasizes the drawbacks of government secrecy, particularly in the context of democratic societies. Moynihan argues that maintaining secrecy is detrimental and outdated, suggesting that an era of openness should be embraced to foster transparency, accountability, and trust in governance.

Themes

SecrecyOpennessGovernmentTransparencyDemocracyTrust

In practice

Example use cases

During a political rally advocating for government reform.

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No one is innocent after the experience of governing. But not everyone is guilty.
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You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.
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The central conservative truth is that it is culture, not politics, that determines the success of a society. The central liberal truth is that politics can change a culture and save it from itself.
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The richest inheritance any child can have is a stable, loving, disciplined family life.
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