Michael Morell Quotes

The U.S. government places considerable trust in those given access to classified information, and we are committed to prosecuting those who abuse that trust.

I value my ability to keep state secrets.

We want to live in a country where the leaders have enough respect for us to tell us the truth

The law courts must appear as a threatening gesture toward secret vice. The bank must declare: here your money is secure and well looked after by honest people.

Next to upholding the Constitution of the United States, the president's highest duty is to protect the security of this country - our national security.

Character in leadership is the most important balance for leadership. Without character, leaders have no safety. Leadership has no protection without character.

I trust the people.

As a governor, I am naturally inclined to focus on the domestic side of protecting the United States.

The information I received as a member of the National Security Council, in my capacity as Vice—President, was so confidential that I would lose my right arm before I divulge it to anyone, even to members of my own family…

That monarch whose subjects are carried off by robbers from his kingdom, while they loudly call for help, and he and his servants are quietly looking on, is a dead and not a living king. The highest duty of a King is to protect his subjects, for the king who enjoys the rewards, just mentioned, is bound to discharge that duty.

You don’t tell the truth just some of the time… The American people deserve the truth all of the time.

The nation must to a degree take it on faith that we [the CIA] too are honorable men devoted to her service.

Confidence... thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance.

If we cannot keep secrets, it is impossible for our leaders to have the adequate information on which to base their policies.

Hillary Clinton is a non-starter and lacks the integrity to lead this nation, but Trump has a long way to go to earn the support of many - me included.

I would never jeopardize classified information. I served my country well and loyally, and I had to sue the C.I.A. on First Amendment grounds.

I held top-secret security clearance.

It matters to people that the president tell them the truth.

If my son or your son handled classified information the way that Hillary Clinton did, they'd be court marshaled.

I worked with [Hillary Clinton] for four years very closely when she was secretary of state and I was at the CIA. I provided her - personally provided her some of the most sensitive information that the Central Intelligence Agency has.

My real issue is that the woman [Hillary Clinton] exposed thousands and thousands of classified documents, which, if I exposed one of them when I was in the Justice Department, they would have put me in jail. That's what I know.

What is Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton done to this country? That the most basic responsibility of an administration is to protect the safety and security of the American people.

As president, I will keep you and our country safe, secure, and free.

I've forgotten more about national security than George W. Bush will ever learn.

Ruthless is not necessarily the word I would use, but tough, resolute, understanding what the problems are, and understanding that the job of the president of the United States is to protect the people of this country and to do what is necessary in order to get it done.