"The resistance of policy-makers to intelligence is not just founded on an ideological presupposition. They distrust intelligence sources and intelligence officials because they don't understand what the real problems are."

"Our Soviet espionage efforts had virtually never, or had very seldom, produced any worthwhile political or economic intelligence on the Soviet Union."

"Deciding whether to trust or credit a person is always an uncertain task."

"There are so many things a large intelligence espionage organization can do to justify its existence, that people can get promotions for, because it could result in results."

"Society is like a stew. If you don't stir it up every once in a while then a layer of scum floats to the top."

"For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst and provide for it."

"Political folk talk a lot these days about 'messaging' - a neologism designed to describe the way in which parties and politicians consciously characterize their efforts. It is only intended to be positive - i.e., 'Our messaging is designed to show we care.'"

"So much of our attention is trained on the Middle East these days, but we cannot ignore East Asia."