We were lucky - we never met a single traitor. For us, underground agents, betrayal is the worst evil. If an agent observes all the security rules and behaves properly in society, no counter-intelligence will spot him or her. Like sappers, underground agents err only once.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- We never met a traitor; underground agents must follow security rules to avoid detection, like sappers who err only once.
- In plain terms
- Agents survive by strict discipline; a single mistake can be fatal.
- What can you take from it?
- Strict adherence to protocol is essential for covert work.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What safeguards prevent human error?
- How can agents recover from a slip?
Another view
It assumes perfect compliance is always possible.
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Luck is important for many professions, and moreso, for that of an intelligence agent.
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