Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Small, unnoticed government intrusions can accumulate to create a society with lost privacy and dignity.
In plain terms
Many small steps against privacy add up to big government control.
What can you take from it?
Watch for small erosions of privacy that add up over time.

Where it applies

  • policy changes
  • surveillance
  • legislation

Putting it to work

  • audit privacy laws
  • track policy changes

Questions to consider

  • What privacy compromises have you accepted?
  • Where is the line drawn?

Another view

Some security measures require intrusions that may be necessary.

More from William O. Douglas

  1. The great and invigorating influences in American life have been the unorthodox: the people who challenge an existing institution or way of life, or say and do…

    Permalink to quote #39
  2. The right to revolt has sources deep in our history.

    Permalink to quote #41
  3. The Constitution is not neutral. It was designed to take the government off the backs of people.

    Permalink to quote #38

Related quotes

  1. I have been placed under surveillance, and I can't take a step without it being known to the Polish minister of internal affairs.

    Konstantin RokossovskyKonstantin Rokossovsky quote #4
  2. Beliefs about how you live your life, matters of private decision, views best kept for private enjoyment, prejudice or entertainment, can't be imposed by the o…

    John MortimerJohn Mortimer quote #1
  3. To be governed is to be watched over, inspected, spied on, directed, legislated at, regulated, docketed, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, assessed, weig…

    P. J. ProudhonP. J. Proudhon quote #2