I had rather take my chance that some traitors will escape detection than spread abroad a spirit of general suspicion and distrust, which accepts rumor and gossip in place of undismayed and unintimidated inquiry.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Protecting individual privacy and inquiry is more important than catching every traitor.
- In plain terms
- It is better to let some guilty people escape than to create a culture of fear.
- What can you take from it?
- Prioritize open inquiry over absolute security.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much risk is acceptable for freedom?
- When does safety become tyranny?
Another view
Some security risks may go undetected under this approach.
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