Seymour Hersh

"Official explanations should be scrutinized more carefully than unofficial ones."

"Power operates most effectively when hidden from public view."

"The comfortable always prefer silence to uncomfortable truths."

"Institutions that can't tolerate scrutiny shouldn't be trusted with authority."

"Follow the money and you often find the real story."

"The public has a right to know what its government does in its name."

"Journalism isn't about being popular; it's about being accurate."

"Those with secrets have the most to lose from transparency."

"Real authority fears questions more than it fears weapons."

"History shows that coverups always eventually unravel."

"The gap between official policy and actual practice is often enormous."

"Skepticism isn't cynicism; it's intellectual honesty."

"Powerful people depend on the public not knowing what they actually do."

"Reporters must be willing to lose access to tell important stories."

"Democracy is only as strong as its ability to question authority."

"The suppression of information is itself a form of propaganda."

"Institutions naturally resist accountability and reform."

"A free press is essential because governments lie."

"Finding the truth requires patience and skepticism in equal measure."

"Power seeks legitimacy through controlling information."

"Accountability starts with exposure and public awareness."

"The most important stories are often the hardest to prove."

"Official channels often exist to suppress rather than facilitate truth."

"Real power operates in the spaces between what's said and what's done."

"Moral courage is more valuable to journalism than any other quality."

"The public's right to know supersedes institutional convenience."

"Secrets are kept because revelation would demand change."