I've been a spy for almost all of my adult life - I don't like being in the spotlight.
Edward SnowdenPresidents should not be exempted from the same standards of reason and evidence and justification that any other citizen or civil movement should be held to.
Edward SnowdenThe most important thing to the United States is not being able to attack our adversaries, the most important thing is to be able to defend ourselves. And we can't do that as long as we're subverting our own security standards for the sake of surveillance.
Edward SnowdenEvery time you pick up the phone, dial a number, write an e-mail, make a purchase, travel on the bus carrying a cell phone, swipe a card somewhere, you leave a trace, and the Government has decided that it's good idea to collect it all, everything, even if you've never been suspected of doing a crime.
Edward Snowden