Men do not mirror themselves in running water - they mirror themselves in still water. Only what is still can still the stillness of other things.
ZhuangziRead
Our constitutional system is defined by a balance between the public's need for transparency and the government's need to have a zone of secrecy around decision making. Both are important, yet they are mutually exclusive.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the tension between transparency and secrecy in governance.
Neal Katyal's quote underscores the complexity of democratic governance, illustrating how the public's desire for transparency can often conflict with the government's need for certain confidential processes. It emphasizes that while both transparency and secrecy are crucial for effective governance, they cannot coexist harmoniously, creating a challenging dynamic that policymakers must navigate.
Themes
TransparencySecrecyGovernanceDemocracyDecision Making
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a political debate to discuss the importance of transparency in government.
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