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About this quote

What does it mean?
Canaris describes a man who used acting and cunning to disarm security agents.
In plain terms
He tricked interrogators by pretending to be simple.
What can you take from it?
Deception can bypass security.

Where it applies

  • espionage
  • conflict
  • interrogation

Putting it to work

  • observe behavior
  • question assumptions

Questions to consider

  • How do you detect deception?
  • Why trust appearance?

Another view

It praises manipulation.

More from Wilhelm Canaris

  1. A day will come when the world will find the Wehrmacht responsible for these methods, inasmuch as the things happen with our tacit consent.

    Permalink to quote #8
  2. Canaris was a highly intelligent and sensitive man with many likeable qualities. He loved his dogs and his horse almost more than any other living creatures. H…

    Permalink to quote #10
  3. Badly mishandled. Nose broken at last interrogation. My time is up. Was not a traitor. Did my duty as a German. If you survive, please tell my wife...

    Permalink to quote #7

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