Edward Snowden

"The role of dissent is to improve the system, not destroy it."

"Truth-telling is a radical act in a world built on lies."

"We are not powerless; we simply choose not to use our power."

"The greatest betrayal is betraying your own principles."

"Justice deferred is an injustice compounded."

"The greatest fear that I have regarding the outcome of these disclosures is that nothing will change."

"I don't want to live in a world where everything I say, everything I do, everyone I talk to, every expression of creativity or love or friendship is recorded."

"Arguing that you don't care about privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say."

"The consent of the governed is not just a nice phrase; it's the foundation of legitimacy."

"I can't in good conscience allow the U.S. government to destroy privacy, internet freedom and basic liberties for people around the world with this massive surveillance machine they're secretly building."

"When you're submerged in a world of lies, the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

"I would rather be a free man in my grave than live as a puppet manipulated by its own government."

"The system is broken and the only way to fix it is through transparency and accountability."

"Surveillance is not about safety. It's about control."

"They can't silence me because the truth is already out there."

"I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic."

"The public has a right to know what their government is doing in their name."

"If they want to know what I think, they should listen to what I have to say."

"Change requires sacrifice and someone has to be willing to pay the price."

"The greatest good I can do is expose the greatest evil."

"I believe in the principle that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed."

"Every time you use your phone, you're potentially being watched."

"A democracy that cannot discuss fundamental issues is no longer a democracy."

"History will judge us not by what we knew, but by what we did about it."

"The boundary between what is legal and what is right has been erased."

"I'm willing to sacrifice everything because the alternative is unacceptable."

"Mass surveillance is the enemy of free thought and free association."

"Whistleblowing is not a crime; it's a moral imperative when government abuses its power."

"The infrastructure for oppression is already built; we're just waiting for the wrong leader to use it."

"I didn't do this for fame or recognition. I did it because it was the right thing to do."